San Diego Padres News

Kyle Hart • RP • Padres

Kyle Hart Earns No. 5 Rotation Spot For Padres

San Diego Padres left-hander Kyle Hart will open the year as the team's No. 5 starting pitcher, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee. Hart opened spring training with the Friars competing with right-handers Randy Vasquez and Stephen Kolek for the fifth rotation spot, but an extra spot opened up with Yu Darvish (elbow) opening the year on the injured list. Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Monday. The 32-year-old southpaw is making his return to the big leagues for the first time since 2020, when he made three starts for the Red Sox. He had a 2.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 28.8% strikeout rate an 6.0% walk rate in the Korean league in 2024 but will now be facing much better competition. Hart will have to pitch much better than he did in two spring starts (eight earned runs allowed in 7 2/3 innings) to stick around at the back end of SD's starting rotation. He's a stash candidate in NL-only formats for now.

23 hours ago

Randy Vásquez • SP • Padres

Randy Vasquez To Begin Season In Padres Starting Rotation

San Diego Padres right-hander Randy Vasquez will open the 2025 season as the team's No. 4 starter. Vasquez opened spring training this year in a competition with right-hander Stephen Kolek and left-hander Kyle Hart for the fifth rotation spot, but now that Yu Darvish (elbow) will open the year on the injured list, both Vasquez and Hart will begin in the rotation. Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Monday. The 26-year-old Dominican had a 3.38 ERA with one walk and seven strikeouts in eight innings over three Cactus League outings (two starts) this spring. Acquired as part of the Juan Soto trade last winter, Vasquez went back and forth between El Paso and the big leagues but ended up making 20 starts and posting a 4.87 ERA and 1.51 WHIP with 62 K's and 29 walks in 98 innings. He should have a clearer path to stick in the rotation in 2025 with Joe Musgrove (elbow) expected to miss the entire year, but his lack of strikeout stuff limits his upside to NL-only leagues.

23 hours ago

Luis Campusano • C • Padres

Luis Campusano Optioned To Triple-A

The San Diego Padres optioned catcher Luis Campusano to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday. In addition to Campusano, the Padres also sent outfielder Oscar Gonzalez and infielders Tyler Wade and Mason McCoy to the minors as they trim their roster down ahead of Opening Day this Thursday against the visiting Atlanta Braves. Campusano, a former second-rounder in 2017, opened as last year's starting catcher but then got injured and never recovered, while Kyle Higashioka proceeded to have a career year. Higashioka is now in Texas, but Campusano hit just .214 (6-for-28) with a homer and four RBI in 14 Cactus League games and will begin the year as the club's third catcher in the minor leagues behind Elias Diaz and veteran Martin Maldonado. There's still pop in his bat, but the inability to make more consistent contact has hurt him. For now, he's off the fantasy radar in all leagues.

Yesterday

Jason Heyward • RF • Padres |

Brandon Lockridge • RF • Padres

Brandon Lockridge Expected To Platoon With Jason Heyward

San Diego Padres outfielder Brandon Lockridge has been told he will make the Opening Day roster, and he's expected to platoon in left field with Jason Heyward to begin the season, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell. Lockridge, who bats right-handed, will be on the short side of the platoon with Heyward, primarily entering the starting lineup when the Friars face a left-handed starting pitcher. The 28-year-old earned a spot on the Opening Day roster by hitting .364 with seven stolen bases and two RBI in 20 Cactus League games this spring. He made his big-league debut in 2024 with SD but appeared in just 12 games, going 2-for-12 with a homer, RBI and two stolen bases. Lockridge's main draw is his speed -- he stole 50 bags in the majors and minors with the Padres and Yankees in 2024 -- but because his playing time will be limited, he's mainly an asset for his speed in NL-only fantasy leagues.

Yesterday

Tirso Ornelas • LF • Padres

Tirso Ornelas Optioned To Triple-A

The San Diego Padres have optioned outfield prospect Tirso Ornelas to Triple-A El Paso. Ornelas was in contention to make the Opening Day roster. During camp, he performed quite well, tallying 15 hits across 23 contests with a .294/.368/.451 slash line. He tallied five doubles with a home run and a 6:6 BB:K. Last summer, Ornelas spent the entire campaign at the Triple-A level. Across 128 contests, the 25-year-old posted a strong .297/.367/.497 slash line with 24 doubles and 23 home runs. He swiped seven bags and held a 53:88 BB:K. This was a steady increase from the .285/.358/.425 line he held across 53 contests at Triple-A in 2023. Fantasy managers in deeper formats should continue to monitor Ornelas, as he could be on the verge of his MLB debut. With Ornelas opening the season at Triple-A, Connor Joe and Jason Heyward will split time in left field while Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. cover center and right field, respectively.

Yesterday

Yu Darvish • SP • Padres

Yu Darvish Won't Be Ready For Opening Day

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) will not be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season due to right-elbow inflammation, manager Mike Shildt confirmed on Friday. There is no timetable for Darvish's return. "We feel pretty comfortable that some rest and getting ramped back up will be the answer," Shildt said. Without a clear timeline for a potential return, we wouldn't blame fantasy managers for avoiding the 38-year-old Japanese veteran in upcoming drafts. He was also limited to only 16 starts in 2024 due to an elbow injury and a personal matter, so surgery on his elbow shouldn't be ruled out at this point. Darvish looked great down the stretch when he returned late last year, though, including two postseason appearances. Now that Darvish will officially open the year on the injured list, lefty Kyle Hart and right-hander Stephen Kolek are competing for the No. 5 rotation spot in SD.

4 days ago

Gavin Sheets • 1B • Padres

Gavin Sheets Added To 40-Man Roster

The San Diego Padres announced on Thursday that they selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Gavin Sheets to their 40-man roster and placed right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) on the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Because of Sheets' strong showing in Cactus League action -- he's hitting .311/.367/.756 with six home runs and 12 RBI in 19 games -- he appears likely to open the 2025 campaign on the big-league roster as an extra bat for the Friars. The 28-year-old left-handed slugger shouldn't be ignored in NL-only leagues, as he could be put in the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter against right-handed pitching to start the year. Sheets, a former second-rounder in 2017 by the Chicago White Sox out of Wake Forest, has had double-digit home runs in all four of his big-league seasons.

5 days ago

Yu Darvish • SP • Padres

Yu Darvish Day-To-Day With Elbow Inflammation

Although San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish (elbow) played catch in camp on Tuesday, manager Mike Shildt revealed that Darvish experienced elbow inflammation after his last Cactus League start. The Padres are calling Darvis day-to-day right now, but Shildt couldn't rule out the injury affecting the start of Darvish's 2025 season. The Padres attributed fatigue to the 38-year-old Japanese pitcher missing his scheduled spring start on Tuesday, but now we know he's dealing with an elbow issue that could land him on the injured list to begin the season. We wouldn't blame fantasy managers from wanting to avoid an aging pitcher dealing with an elbow issue that could put the start of his season in peril. If Darvish is not able to open the year in the Friars' starting rotation, either Stephen Kolek or Kyle Hart would be candidates to replace him.

7 days ago

Michael King • SP • Padres

Michael King Named Padres' Opening Day Starter

San Diego Padres right-hander Michael King will start on Opening Day on Thursday, March 27, against the visiting Atlanta Braves, according to manager Mike Shildt. King will get the nod over right-hander Dylan Cease to kick things off in 2025 after he finished the 2024 campaign in downright nasty form for the Friars. In his first year as a full-time starter in the big leagues in San Diego in 2024 after being involved in the blockbuster trade that sent outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Yankees, the 29-year-old went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA (3.33 FIP), a 1.19 WHIP, a career-high 201 strikeouts and 63 walks in 173 2/3 innings over 31 regular-season outings (30 starts). King excelled after basically swapping his sweeper for a harder slider and finished as the No. 16 fantasy starting pitcher. It will be interesting to see how his body handles another full workload in 2025, but you should treat him as a strong No. 2 starter.

Mar 18

Yu Darvish • SP • Padres

Yu Darvish Dealing With Fatigue

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (fatigue) will have his scheduled bullpen session on Sunday pushed back for a day or two. That being said, Darvish won't take the mound for Tuesday's scheduled start. Right now, the Padres aren't too concerned and will just give Darvish some time to rest. The injury bug continues to hold back the right-hander who hasn't made 30 starts in a single season since 2022. It doesn't sound like the team is discussing placing Darvish on the injured list. For now, Darvish should be considered as day-to-day until the team re-evaluates the situation in a few days.

Mar 16

Matt Waldron • SP • Padres

Matt Waldron Diagnosed With Oblique Strain

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Matt Waldron (oblique) was unable to pitch on Friday due to a "mild" left oblique strain. Waldron was set to enter the spring training contest but was pulled by the medical staff. After the contest, the team noted he would be evaluated further on Saturday. If Waldron were to miss time, this could open the door for Randy Vasquez to be the clear front-runner for the final spot in the starting rotation. Last season, Waldron logged 146 2/3 innings (26 starts) and held a 4.91 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He tallied 133 strikeouts and posted a strong 6.4 percent walk rate. He also generated a modest 4.11 xERA with a .246 xBA. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as Vasquez, Stephen Kolek, or Kyle Hart could see opportunities in the rotation at the start of the season.

Mar 15

Jake Cronenworth • 1B • Padres

Jake Cronenworth Not Expected To Play First Base

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said he doesn't foresee second baseman Jake Cronenworth playing first base this year. "I don't see it on the radar at the moment," Shildt said. Cronenworth enters the 2025 season with eligibility at both second and first base after splitting time at the two positions in 2024. Losing Ha-Seong Kim in free agency means that Xander Bogaerts will be at shortstop full time and Cronenworth will be at the keystone full time. At first base, Luis Arraez is expected to handle most of the playing time. The 31-year-old left-handed-hitting Cronenworth batted .241/.324/.390 with 17 home runs, 83 RBI, five steals and 72 runs in 653 plate appearances last year. He makes plenty of contact but only has middling power. Given the fact that he rarely runs, Cronenworth settles in as useful middle infield depth to target late in fantasy drafts.

Mar 14

Dylan Cease • SP • Padres

Padres Unlikely To Trade Dylan Cease

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reports that the San Diego Padres are unlikely to trade right-hander Dylan Cease before the start of the 2025 season, despite the fact that he's scheduled to be a free agent after this year. "I just do not think we are going to see a Dylan Cease trade that rescues the Yankees season," Morosi said in response to the fact that Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (elbow) will have season-ending Tommy John surgery. Not only are the Yankees hesitant to add to their payroll at the moment, but they would also be hesitant to give up top prospects such as Jasson Dominguez and Will Warren, who they will be counting on at the major-league level in 2025. The Padres could change their tune on Cease closer to this summer's trade deadline if the Padres are well out of contention, but for now, he appears primed to continue on as SD's ace. Cease's strikeout upside makes him a low-end No. 1/high-end No. 2 fantasy starter.

Mar 11

Sean Reynolds • RP • Padres

Sean Reynolds Unlikely To Be Ready For Opening Day

San Diego Padres right-handed pitching prospect Sean Reynolds (foot) is not expected to break camp with the Padres. Reynolds has been dealing with a stress reaction in his foot and has been wearing a walking boot. He has been unable to take the mound as well. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during the early part of the season as he should contend for a spot in the majors once he is cleared. Last season, Reynolds made his MLB debut and performed quite well as he held a 0.82 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP across his first 11 frames. He tallied 21 punchouts and generated an elite 22.7 percent hard-hit rate. In 54 innings at Triple-A last summer, the 26-year-old posted a 6.17 ERA with a 1.69 WHIP. When healthy, Reynolds should be in contention to earn a role in the San Diego bullpen given his production in the majors last season.

Mar 9

Bryan Hoeing • RP • Padres

Bryan Hoeing Not Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Bryan Hoeing (shoulder) is not expected to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. Hoeing has battled shoulder soreness throughout most of camp. He recently began playing catch but has not been able to increase his workload. Last season, the 28-year-old was effective in the majors and posted a 2.18 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP. He logged 53 2/3 innings and held a strong 6.7 percent walk rate but struggled to generate strikeouts as he tallied just 43. However, his strong 48.4 percent ground-ball held offset his low strikeout production. He spent most of his season operating as a long-relief option. When he is cleared to return, fantasy managers should expect Hoeing to have a similar role in 2025, which would only make him valuable in deeper NL-only formats.

Mar 9

Ethan Salas • C • Padres |

Leodalis De Vries • SS • Padres

Padres Reassign Ethan Salas, Leodalis De Vries To Minor League Camp

The San Diego Padres reassigned two of their top prospects, catcher Ethan Salas and shortstop Leodalis De Vries, to minor-league camp. Both were invited to spring training, but neither was expected to make the team at 18 years of age. It was surely valuable experience for both players for whom the Padres have high hopes. Salas went just 1-for-8 in Cactus League play but was able to coax five walks compared to only two strikeouts, while De Vries went 2-for-16 with a 3:5 BB:K. In 2025, Salas will look to improve upon the .206/.288/.311 slash line he posted at High-A last season. De Vries showed a bit better during his time at Single-A, slashing .237/.361/.441 with 11 homers and 13 steals in 75 games. Neither is likely to debut this season, but both belong on the dynasty radar with an expectation of a late 2026 or 2027 arrival.

Mar 7

Michael King • SP • Padres

Michael King Tosses Two Scoreless Frames In Spring Debut

San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Michael King tossed two shutout frames during his spring debut on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. However, King struggled with his command as he served up two walks over this start. He did tally three strikeouts. Even though King enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2024, King sometimes struggled with his command. Last season, he held a high 8.7 percent walk rate which placed him in the 39th percentile. However, he generated hard-contact at an elite 30.3 percent rate and tallied strikeouts at a 27.7 percent rate which helped offset his high walk rate. Through a career-high 173 2/3 innings, the 29-year-old posted a 2.95 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP. He was dominant in the second half of the season as he held a 2.15 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP in 62 innings. He is expected to open the season as the No. 2 starter in the rotation behind Dylan Cease.

Mar 6

Jose Iglesias • 2B • Padres

Jose Iglesias, Padres Agree To A Deal

Free-agent veteran infielder Jose Iglesias and the San Diego Padres agreed to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the deal. The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports it's a minor-league deal with an invitation to camp. The 35-year-old will make $3 million if he's in the big leagues and will have incentives that can earn him an extra $1 million. The Cuban infielder joined the New York Mets late last season and impressed with a .337/.381/.448 slash line, four home runs, 26 RBI, six steals and 39 runs scored in 85 regular-season games while helping the team advance to the National League Championship Series. Fantasy managers should not expect Iglesias to hit that well again in San Diego, though, where he'll likely bounce around as a utility infielder for the Friars. Iglesias' biggest value to the Padres might be his locker-room presence.

Mar 5

Nick Pivetta • SP • Padres

Nick Pivetta Tallies Four Strikeouts In Spring Debut

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta tossed 2 2/3 shutout frames in his spring training debut on Tuesday. Pivetta signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Padres in February and was slightly behind schedule to start camp. However, the 32-year-old looked sharp in his first taste of game action as he tallied four punchouts and allowed just one base runner (via a free pass). Last season, Pivetta logged 145 2/3 innings with a 4.14 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP with the Boston Red Sox. He tallied an impressive 172 strikeouts and held a strong 6.1 percent walk rate. He also generated a 3.51 xERA with a .221 xBA, suggesting he should see significant positive regression during the 2025 campaign. Fantasy managers should view Pivetta as an intriguing option in the later rounds when looking to boost their strikeout totals.

Mar 5

Manny Machado • 3B • Padres

Manny Machado Back In Cactus League Action On Tuesday

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (back) is back at third base and is hitting cleanup on Tuesday for the split-squad Cactus League game against the division-rival San Francisco Giants. Machado was scratched from a spring training game a week ago due to some back tightness, but after resting up, he's feeling better and is ready to return to the field. It's a good sign he's also being allowed to play defense in his return, so Machado should be ready to go later this month for Opening Day, barring a setback with his back. Although he's on the wrong side of 32, Machado has been extremely consistent and has 30-plus home runs in seven of the last the last 10 full seasons. Although he hit just 29 bombs a year ago, he drove in 100-plus runs for the fourth time in his career and has at least 600 plate appearances in 10 of his 13 MLB seasons. Machado is RotoBaller's No. 6-ranked fantasy third baseman.

Mar 4

San Diego Padres News

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