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Manny Machado Manny Machado On track entering spring training
Tue, Feb 13, 2024, 8:27 PM
Machado (elbow) is swinging with 100 percent effort and playing catch to start spring training, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Machado is recovering from surgery to repair an extensor tendon injury in his elbow, leaving his status for Opening Day in question. For now, the news is positive, with general manager A.J. Preller saying that Machado has hit all expected benchmarks at this point, while also stating that he is "tracking toward" playing in the Padres' series against the Dodgers in Korea to kick off the regular season. Despite the positivity, there's still nothing definitive about Machado's status, as he is limited in the volume of his work and will be eased back into game action. |
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Jurickson Profar Jurickson Profar Back in San Diego on one-year deal
Mon, Feb 12, 2024, 10:25 AM
Profar agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Padres on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: He can earn an additional $1.5 million in incentives based on plate appearances. Profar had a nice finish with the Padres last season (.776 OPS in 14 games) after a disastrous run with the Rockies (.680 OPS in 111 games) and is back for another stint in San Diego. As things stand currently, Profar probably vaults to the top of the Padres' depth chart in left field, although it wouldn't be a surprise to see the club bring in additional help. |
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Alek Jacob Alek Jacob Good to go for spring
Sun, Feb 11, 2024, 12:22 PM
Padres manager Mike Shildt said Sunday that Jacob (elbow) has no lingering health concerns as spring training gets underway, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Jacob has reported to Padres camp and looks as though he'll face no restrictions after he ended the 2023 season on the 60-day injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. Before being shut down shortly after the All-Star break, Jacob made the first three appearances of his MLB career out of the San Diego bullpen, allowing no runs or hits over three innings while striking out five and walking one. The 25-year-old righty will be given a fair chance to compete for an Opening Day roster spot, though the fact that he has three minor-league options remaining and doesn't have a long track record at the big-league level may work against him. |
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Jose Azocar Jose Azocar Will get shot in center field
Mon, Feb 5, 2024, 11:05 AM
Padres manager Mike Shildt said last week that Azocar will get a shot in spring training to play center field, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Shildt indicated that while Azocar could play a different position if the team brings in a center fielder from outside the organization, the plan for now seems to be to give the 27-year-old a long look in center. Azocar has plenty of experience at all three outfield spots, but the majority of his time -- particularly in the minors -- has been spent in center. He has just a .633 OPS in 153 games at the big-league level and posted only a .695 OPS at Triple-A El Paso last season, but Azocar did steal 26 bases between the majors and minors in 2023. |
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Fernando Tatis Jr. Fernando Tatis Jr. Expected to stay in right field
Mon, Feb 5, 2024, 10:58 AM
Padres manager Mike Shildt said last week that Tatis is "strongly penciled in to play right field," Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: The skipper noted that things can eventually change, but he has no expectation at this juncture that Tatis will play a position other than right field. Tatis has been mentioned previously as a possibility in center field and seemingly has the athleticism to do it, but the 25-year-old has indicated a preference to remain in right and it looks like his wish will be granted. Also worth noting is that, with the dimensions at Petco Park, right field is a more difficult spot to play there than it is at most other venues. |
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Xander Bogaerts Xander Bogaerts Position change possible?
Mon, Feb 5, 2024, 10:51 AM
Padres manager Mike Shildt indicated last week that he could eventually discuss a possible position switch with Bogaerts, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Shildt said that Bogaerts is projected to play shortstop in 2024 "right now" but added that he will talk with the 31-year-old soon and indicated that an eventual move to the right side of the infield -- presumably second base -- would be discussed. Bogaerts actually graded out well defensively at shortstop for the second year in a row in 2023, but Ha-Seong Kim is viewed as the superior defender there and top shortstop prospect Jackson Merrill could be ready before long. |
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Robert Suarez Robert Suarez Shildt declines to name closer
Mon, Feb 5, 2024, 10:39 AM
Padres manager Mike Shildt mentioned Suarez and Yuki Matsui as possibilities but declined to name a closer when asked last week, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Shildt also brought up Wandy Peralta as a high-leverage option but, perhaps notably, did not bring up Woo-suk Go's name. The manager indicated that it's possible he could name a closer based on how things go in spring training but also hinted that it might be a committee based on the situation and who is available. While Suarez and Matsui appear to be the guys for fantasy managers to target if they're drafting early, it's a situation that lacks clarity at the moment. |
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Joe Musgrove Joe Musgrove Good to go for spring training
Mon, Feb 5, 2024, 10:19 AM
Padres manager Mike Shildt last last week that Musgrove (shoulder) will not have any limitations in spring training, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: San Diego's new skipper revealed that Musgrove has already thrown some bullpen sessions and even faced some hitters and has bounced back with no issues. The veteran right-hander missed the final two months of last season with right shoulder inflammation and also dealt with elbow bursitis earlier in the year. Musgrove was highly effective in 2023 when on the mound, collecting a 3.05 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 97:21 K:BB over 97.1 frames. It's certainly encouraging that it looks like he'll enter spring training with no limits, but Musgrove will remain a health red flag going into 2024. |
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Yu Darvish Yu Darvish No limitations in spring training
Mon, Feb 5, 2024, 10:13 AM
Padres manager Mike Shildt said last week that Darvish (elbow) will have no limitations in spring training, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Shildt noted that Darvish has been throwing bullpen sessions without issue and has even faced a few hitters already. It's certainly a good sign after the 37-year-old missed the final month of last season with a bone spur in his right elbow. Darvish finished 2023 with a disappointing 4.56 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 141:43 K:BB through 136.1 innings. While he looks to be trending in a good direction, Darvish will remain a health risk in 2024 given his age and how last season concluded. |
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Austin Davis Austin Davis Gets minors deal from Padres
Thu, Feb 1, 2024, 1:44 PM
Davis signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday.
Analysis: The lefty reliever had a 2023 season to forget, posting an 11.22 ERA and 34:38 K:BB over 25.2 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land in the Astros organization. Slated to turn 31 on Saturday, Davis holds a career 5.61 ERA and 159:73 K:BB across 144.1 frames in parts of five seasons at the major-league level. |
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Wandy Peralta Wandy Peralta Gets four-year deal with opt-outs
Wed, Jan 31, 2024, 10:58 AM
Peralta signed a four-year, $16.5 million contract with the Padres on Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The unusual contract contains three opt-out clauses. Peralta really struggled with his control in 2023 in walking 30 batters over 54 innings, but he still managed to post a sub-3.00 ERA for the second year in a row. The 32-year-old has a career strikeout rate of just 19.6 percent, but he also boasts a 52.9 percent ground ball rate and can handle lefties and righties. He will handle high-leverage innings for San Diego. |
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Nick Hernandez Nick Hernandez Back with Padres as NRI
Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 9:12 PM
Hernandez signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Friday that includes and invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Hernandez elected free agency after losing his spot on the Padres' 40-man roster back in November, but he's now back with the club as a non-roster invitee. The 29-year-old was knocked around during his brief time in the majors in 2023 but held a 3.84 ERA and 82:21 K:BB over 61 innings between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso. |
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Matt Festa Matt Festa Signs with Friars
Sat, Jan 27, 2024, 9:06 AM
Festa signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Friday and received an invitation to major-league spring training.
Analysis: Festa pitched in parts of four seasons for the Mariners before being DFA'd in August, accumulating a 4.32 career ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 93.2 total innings. He'll get a chance to make the Padres' Opening Day roster, though his role likely caps out as a middle reliever. |
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Adrian Morejon Adrian Morejon Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 6:00 PM
Morejon signed a one-year contract with the Padres on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.
Analysis: Elbow and knee injuries limited Morejon to just eight big-league appearances last season. The 24-year-old southpaw surrendered seven earned runs over nine innings when healthy and will likely return to a middle relief role to begin 2024. |
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Kyle Higashioka Kyle Higashioka Reaches deal with new team
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 5:56 PM
Higashioka signed a one-year contract with the Padres on Thursday, avoiding arbitration
Analysis: Higashioka joined the Padres as part of the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees in December. Higashioka slashed .236/.274/.413 with 34 RBI across 242 plate appearances last season, and he seems destined for a backup role behind Luis Campusano with the Padres. |
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Enyel De Los Santos Enyel De Los Santos Avoids arbitration with SD
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 5:53 PM
De Los Santos signed a one-year contract with the Padres on Thursday to avoid arbitration.
Analysis: The Guardians sent De Los Santos to San Diego earlier in the offseason in exchange for Scott Barlow. De Los Santos emerged as a reliable bullpen arm, posting a 3.18 ERA and 1.11 WHIP across two seasons in Cleveland, and he figures to be used fairly often in high-leverage situations with his new club. |
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Michael King Michael King Avoids arbitration with new team
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 4:50 PM
King signed a one-year, $3.15 million contract with the Padres on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Analysis: King was traded to San Diego in December as part of the deal that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees, and he's now officially under contract for the new season. King was moved from the bullpen into the Yankees' rotation toward the end of last season, allowing him to pitch a career-high 104.2 innings while still maintaining a 2.75 ERA. The 28-year-old righty will most likely remain a starter as he begins his tenure as a Padre. |
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Bryce Johnson Bryce Johnson Signs with SD
Thu, Jan 4, 2024, 4:16 PM
Johnson signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Dec. 21.
Analysis: Johnson has slashed .148/.209/.213 across 67 plate appearances in his major-league career, but his .828 Triple-A OPS from last season is enough for San Diego to take a chance on him. Johnson should have a chance to make the Padres' Opening Day roster based on the team's lack of outfield depth, but the 28-year-old will most likely begin the year at Triple-A El Paso. |
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Oscar Mercado Oscar Mercado Joins Padres on minor-league deal
Thu, Jan 4, 2024, 3:55 PM
Mercado signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Dec. 28.
Analysis: Mercado played in 20 big-league games with the Cardinals last season, racking up nine hits and five RBI in 32 trips to the plate. Down in Triple-A, he slashed .298/.366/.521 with 14 homers and 62 RBI between three different organizations. The Padres have limited outfield depth on their current big-league roster, so Mercado may have a decent chance of playing in San Diego this season as a bench piece. |
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Kevin Plawecki Kevin Plawecki Gets minors deal from San Diego
Thu, Jan 4, 2024, 12:07 PM
Plawecki signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Thursday, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.
Analysis: Plawecki spent time with three organizations in 2023, with San Diego being one of them. He didn't see any action at the major-league level last year, producing a .739 OPS with four homers in 67 games at the Triple-A level. The Padres appear set at catcher with Luis Campusano and Kyle Higashioka, pointing toward a ticket to Triple-A El Paso for Plawecki. |
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