The Padres had a quiet winter compared to their division rivals. San Diego saw key players like Tanner Scott, Ha-Seong Kim, and Jurickson Profar leave in free agency. They missed out to the hated Dodgers for Roki Sasaki, and the only significant signing San Diego made was starter Nick Pivetta. Other players, like Dylan Cease and Michael King, were also involved in trade rumors. However, the Padres still have plenty of talent on their roster and remain a postseason-caliber team.
A Quiet Offseason
The National League West division is going to be much tougher this season. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Francisco Giants all made moves this offseason. However, in comparison to those teams, the San Diego Padres had a much quieter offseason. The only free agent signing they made was former Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta. The quieter offseason may be linked to the ongoing ownership dispute involving the late Pete Seidler’s family. Meanwhile, all-stars Jurickson Profar, Tanner Scott, and defensive specialist Ha-Seong Kim were allowed to depart as free agents. While they were finalists for Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, they ultimately lost out to their arch-rival, the Dodgers.
An Offense That Can Still Put Up Lots Of Runs
Aside from losing Ha-Seong Kim and Jurickson Profar, most of the Padres’ lineup is returning this season. Last season, San Diego averaged 4.69 runs per game, the sixth most in the National League. The only teams that averaged more runs than the Padres were the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Phillies, Brewers, and Mets. Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, and Jackson Merrill were all all-stars last year. Merrill finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Pittsburgh Pirates superstar starting pitcher Paul Skenes. When healthy, Manny Machado maintains his status as an all-star caliber player. Despite the Padres not making any external additions to their lineup, this offense is still built to score.
Uncertainty In The Starting Rotation
Key starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Michael King have been the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason. However, both players will still don the white, brown, and gold this season. They’ll be relied upon heavily with Joe Musgrove expected to miss the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Yu Darvish is dealing with elbow inflammation, and no timeline has been established regarding his return. While the team signed heavy strikeout veteran Nick Pivetta, he was inconsistent in the Red Sox rotation. The back of the rotation also presents question marks. Matt Waldron was initially favored to anchor it, but he’s been dealing with an oblique injury. Kyle Hart was brought over from Korea, Randy Vasquez struggled last season, and Stephen Kolek pitched primarily out of the bullpen.
The Bullpen Is Still Deep
While San Diego lost Tanner Scott, their bullpen remains very deep. As a unit, the Padres compiled an ERA of 3.78. The only teams that averaged fewer earned runs than the Friars were the Brewers, Dodgers, and Cardinals. Closer Robert Suarez had a career year in 2024 and was even an all-star. Jeremiah Estrada proved to be a diamond in the rough with an ERA of 2.95 and a 37.3% strikeout rate. Adrian Morejon enjoyed the best year of his career in 2024. Japanese import Yuki Matsui showed promise in his first MLB season. Trade deadline acquisition Jason Adam recorded an ERA of just 1.01 in 27 games down the stretch last season. With this level of bullpen depth, San Diego has plenty of reasons to feel confident at the end of a game.
The Padres Can Easily Overtake The Mets
While the NL West will be difficult to conquer, San Diego can certainly snag a wild card spot. The only other surefire playoff teams on paper are the Diamondbacks and Phillies. While the Mets are also a popular postseason pick, San Diego is a much stronger team. Unlike New York, the Padres’ pitching staff isn’t full of liabilities, and their lineup is full of capable contributors.
Don’t Sleep On The Padres
The Padres found themselves in a similar situation last offseason when they lost several key players. However, they still made it to the postseason and came within a game of eliminating the Dodgers in the NLDS. While the starting rotation has some uncertainties, the Friars’ offense can still generate plenty of runs, and their bullpen is among the deepest in the National League. It would be unwise to count out the San Diego Padres in 2025.
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