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Bryan Hoeing Bryan Hoeing Battling sore shoulder
Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 3:55 AM
Hoeing is working through shoulder soreness and has not yet pitched in camp this spring, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: The Padres remain hopeful that Hoeing can start the season on time despite the early setback. Hoeing enjoyed a breakout campaign last year between Miami and San Diego, posting a sparkling 2.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 53.2 innings, though his expected role as the long man in the bullpen is not the most fantasy friendly. |
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Tim Locastro Tim Locastro Back with San Diego on MiLB deal
Thu, Feb 20, 2025, 12:27 PM
The Padres re-signed Locastro to a minor-league contract Thursday, Aram Leighton of JustBaseball.com reports.
Analysis: Injuries limited Locastro to just 33 games last season, but he slashed .333/.449/.479 with Triple-A El Paso when on the field. The 32-year-old will provide the Padres with some veteran outfield depth. |
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Luis Arraez Luis Arraez Thumb injury behind him
Thu, Feb 20, 2025, 8:42 AM
Arraez said Wednesday that "I feel like I got a new thumb" following surgery in October to repair a torn ligament, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune reports.
Analysis: Arraez tore the UCL in his left thumb on a slide on June 25 and played through "a lot" of pain before eventually undergoing offseason surgery. He managed to win his third straight batting title in 2024, although Arraez's .314 average in the regular season was down 21 points and his slugging percentage dropped 53 points from over the previous two years. The 27-year-old could have a mini bounce-back 2025 season, although he is likely to remain largely a one-category specialist. |
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Yuli Gurriel Yuli Gurriel Signs with San Diego as NRI
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 6:04 PM
The Padres signed Gurriel to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Gurriel will make $1.25 million if he's in the majors, with an additional $1 million possible in incentives. The 40-year-old got into 18 regular-season games down the stretch with the Royals in 2024, putting up a .635 OPS with zero home runs. If he makes the team, Gurriel could potentially see some action at designated hitter, or at first base if the Padres use Luis Arraez at DH. |
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Manny Machado Manny Machado Had fully healthy offseason
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 11:44 AM
Machado is 100 percent at the beginning of spring training following his first normal offseason in a couple years, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Machado dealt with lingering tennis elbow during the 2023 campaign as well as that offseason and then last winter was recovering from surgery to repair the elbow. This was the first time he was able to have a normal offseason routine since prior to the 2022 season and that year he slashed .298/.366/.531 while finishing runner-up in the National League MVP voting. Machado was still quite productive each of the last two years, but his numbers could be due for an uptick in 2025. |
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Connor Joe Connor Joe Likely to be part of LF platoon
Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 12:34 PM
Joe and Jason Heyward are expected to platoon in left field for the Padres this season, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: After All-Star outfielder Jurickson Profar signed with Atlanta in late January, the Padres signed Joe and Heyward on the same day in early February. It appears the plan is to have the pair platoon in left field, though Acee suggests that direction could change depending on how the players perform in spring training. If Joe is part of a platoon, he'll serve on the short side, though his splits weren't dramatic last year -- he had a .670 OPS against right-handed pitching and a .715 OPS versus southpaws. |
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Luis Patino Luis Patino Throwing early in camp
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 2:16 PM
Patino (elbow) is throwing bullpens during the early portion of spring training, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.
Analysis: Patino underwent Tommy John surgery last April and signed with San Diego on a minor-league deal Jan. 7. His first taste of big-league action came with the Padres in 2020, and he's since logged major-league action with the Rays and White Sox. Though Patino seems to be progressing in his rehab, he isn't expected to be game-ready until around the middle of the season. |
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Luis Arraez Luis Arraez Will play first base this season
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 12:16 PM
Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said Thursday that he sees Arraez as the team's first baseman this season, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Manager Mike Shildt also added of Arraez and Jake Cronenworth that "they're everyday guys that'll be on the field," implying that Arraez is expected to be the everyday first baseman rather than the designated hitter. Cronenworth, meanwhile, is expected to settle in at second base. The Padres don't currently have a clear favorite for DH duties, but they could use the spot to rotate players or potentially acquire some help from outside the organization. |
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Kyle Hart Kyle Hart Returns stateside in San Diego
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 10:04 AM
Hart signed Thursday with the Padres on a one-year, $1 million contract that includes a $5 million club option for 2026, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: After reaching a four-year deal with Nick Pivetta on Wednesday, the Padres have further bolstered their rotation depth with the addition of Hart, a 32-year-old lefty whose lone MLB action came back in 2020, when he tossed 11 innings for the Red Sox. Hart was able to secure an MLB deal on the back of his standout performance this past season in the Korea Baseball Organization with the NC Dinos, as he took home the league's equivalent of the Cy Young Award while turning in a 2.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 182:38 K:BB in 157 innings. The lower caliber of competition in the KBO certainly helped Hart achieve his lofty results, but it's been increasingly common in recent years for American pitchers to find MLB success upon returning stateside following impressive stints in Korea, with Erick Fedde and Merrill Kelly both standing out as notable examples. Hart will likely still have to impress in spring training to secure his spot in the San Diego rotation, with knuckleballer Matt Waldron representing Hart's top challenger for the No. 5 spot. |
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Nick Pivetta Nick Pivetta Signs with San Diego
Wed, Feb 12, 2025, 8:31 PM
Pivetta signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Pivetta declined a $21.05 million qualifying offer from the Red Sox earlier in the offseason, opting to pursue a multi-year deal with a lower AAV instead. That is exactly what he'll get from the Padres, who gain a much-needed boost to their rotation depth. The 31-year-old righty turned in a 4.14 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 145.2 innings last season alongside a 172:36 K:BB. He's developed a reputation for living in the strike zone and thus racking up high strikeout totals, but he has yet to finish a season with a sub-4.00 ERA over his eight-year career. |
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Matt Waldron Matt Waldron Intends to lean more on knuckleball
Wed, Feb 12, 2025, 6:37 PM
Waldron said Wednesday that he is planning to throw his knuckleball more frequently during the upcoming season, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The knuckler was Waldron's most-used pitch last year, as he threw it 38.2 percent of the time, per Statcast. The right-hander registered a 27.5 percent whiff rate on the offering, and opponents had a .227 xBA against it, rendering it a relatively effective pitch, especially in comparison to his four-seamer (19.1 percent usage rate, 22.4 percent whiff rate, .247 xBA) and his sinker (14.3 percent usage rate, 6.7 percent whiff rate, .316 xBA). Waldron is battling for a spot at the back of San Diego's rotation, and how he -- and his knuckleball -- perform during Cactus League play could go a long way toward determining what his role will be at the start of the season. |
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Bryan Hoeing Bryan Hoeing Staying in bullpen
Wed, Feb 12, 2025, 12:58 PM
Hoeing will remain in the Padres' bullpen rather than being stretched out as a rotation option, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Hoeing has plenty of past starting experience and San Diego had given consideration to building him back up. However, the club has ultimately decided he'll provide more value by staying in the bullpen. Hoeing made 32 relief appearances and two starts between the Marlins and Padres in 2024, collecting a 2.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 43:14 K:BB over 53.2 innings. |
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Stephen Kolek Stephen Kolek Will be stretched out this spring
Wed, Feb 12, 2025, 12:52 PM
Kolek will be stretched out as a starting pitcher this spring, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: All 42 of Kolek's appearances with the Padres last season came in relief and he was a full-time reliever in the minors in 2023, as well. However, the 27-year-old made 25-plus starts on two occasions during his time in the minors, so starting is not completely foreign to him. Stretching Kolek out makes sense for a Padres team that lacks rotation depth, but he's a long shot to break camp as one of the team's starting five. Kolek missed the final two months of last season with a forearm issue but appears to be healthy as camp opens. |
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Gavin Sheets Gavin Sheets Joining San Diego on MiLB deal
Sun, Feb 9, 2025, 12:20 PM
Sheets signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Sunday that includes in invite to big-league spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: The 28-year-old was non-tendered by the White Sox in November after he finished the 2024 campaign with a .233/.303/.357 slash line in 139 games. Sheets will provide some organizational depth at first base and the corner outfield, with his clearest path to a roster spot likely being at designated hitter. |
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Jhony Brito Jhony Brito Could compete for rotation spot
Sun, Feb 9, 2025, 12:14 PM
Brito (elbow) could be ready to pitch by the start of spring training and is an option for a spot in the Padres' starting rotation, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Brito ended last season on the 60-day IL due to a right elbow strain, but the injury didn't require surgery. San Diego is optimistic that the right-handed hurler will be healthy and ready to throw by the time Cactus League play begins February 21, and if that's the case, he could be among several pitchers competing for a spot at the back of the team's rotation. Brito was a part of the Padres' haul in the trade with the Yankees for Juan Soto, and he posted a 4.12 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB over 43.2 innings across 26 appearances -- all out of the bullpen -- during his first season in San Diego. |
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Joe Musgrove Joe Musgrove Could resume throwing at midseason
Sun, Feb 9, 2025, 12:02 PM
Musgrove (elbow) will work out with plyometric balls during spring training but isn't expected to start a throwing program until around midseason, per MLB.com.
Analysis: Musgrove is recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in October. While he'll be with the team and do some non-throwing workouts during spring camp, the fact that the veteran right-hander won't begin throwing until midseason emphasizes how far away he is from returning to game action. Though it's possible Musgrove could pitch near the end of the coming campaign, the more likely scenario is that his next time on a major-league mound will come during the 2026 season. |
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Jason Heyward Jason Heyward Signs with Friars
Fri, Feb 7, 2025, 11:13 PM
Heyward agreed to terms on a contract with the Padres on Friday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Heyward got off to a rough start with the Dodgers last season, slashing just .208/.289/.393 across 197 plate appearances before being released by the team in late August. He was able to latch on with Houston and end the regular season on a relatively positive note, going 12-for-55 with four homers and nine RBI over 24 games. Now in San Diego, the 35-year-old will likely form a platoon in left field with Connor Joe, who also signed a one-year pact with the Padres on Friday. |
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Connor Joe Connor Joe Headed to San Diego
Fri, Feb 7, 2025, 5:33 PM
Joe signed a contract with the Padres on Friday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Joe was non-tendered by the Pirates in November after spending the last two seasons in Pittsburgh. He appeared in 256 regular-season games for the Pirates and slashed .238/.330/.396 with 20 home runs and 78 RBI over that span. The 32-year-old Joe should see some playing time in the outfield and at first base for the Padres in 2025. |
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Xander Bogaerts Xander Bogaerts Expected to play shortstop in 2025
Sat, Feb 1, 2025, 11:29 PM
Bogaerts will be the Padres' starting shortstop during the upcoming season, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: San Diego shifted Bogaerts to second base ahead of the 2024 campaign, and he ended up making 85 starts there. However, the veteran infielder did start 16 times at shortstop, with all of those appearances coming at the end of the season after Ha-Seong Kim landed on the injured list due to a shoulder injury. Kim is now in Tampa Bay, which made Bogaerts' return to shortstop an expected scenario. For fantasy purposes, it's important to note that Bogaerts appeared four times at shortstop in addition to his 16 starts there last year, giving him 20 appearances at the position in total, so he should have dual-position eligibility from the beginning of the season in most formats. |
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Michael King Michael King Avoids arbitration with San Diego
Fri, Jan 31, 2025, 12:15 PM
The Padres and King avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million contract with a $15 million mutual option for 2026, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: The buyout on the option is $3.75 million, with the possibility of it reaching $8 million if he hits all his incentives. The structure of the deal provides the Padres with some payroll wiggle room, which could lessen the need to trade either King or Dylan Cease. The right-handed King collected a 2.95 ERA and 201:63 K:BB over 173.2 regular-season innings with the Padres in 2024. |
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