San Diego Padres News

Adrian Morejon  • RP  •  Padres

Adrian Morejon A Candidate To Join Starting Rotation

The San Diego Padres would love to land Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki this offseason, but if they don't, general manager A.J. Preller mentions left-hander Adrian Morejon as a candidate to move from the bullpen to the starting rotation in 2025. Preller also said that right-handed relievers Bryan Hoeing and Stephen Kolek could be options to join the rotation. It will all depend on what the Padres do in free agency and on the trade market before the start of spring training. Morejon is coming off the best year of his career and pitched his way into a high-leverage bullpen role. He had a 2.83 ERA (2.79 FIP) and a 10.0 K/9 in 60 appearances. Staying healthy has been an issue for the southpaw in his career, though, so a move to a starting role wouldn't help his chances at staying on the field. Hoeing was a part-time starter with the Marlins before he was acquired at last summer's trade deadline.
5 days ago   
Juan Nunez  • RP  •  Padres  |  Juan Nunez  • P  •  Blue Jays

Padres Select Pitcher Juan Nunez In Rule 5 Draft

The San Diego Padres took pitcher Juan Nunez from the Orioles' organization with the 12th pick in Wednesday's Rule 5 Draft. Nunez ranked as Baltimore's eighth-ranked prospect, now slotting in as San Diego's No. 11. Players taken in the major league phase of the draft have to put on the team's 40-man roster, paving the way to playing time in the big leagues and the hope is that they'll remain on the 40-man at the end of the season. Six of the 10 players selected in last year's Rule 5 Draft stayed with the team for the entirety of the season. Nunez is a 5-foot-11 righty who has been used as both a starter and a reliever. The Dominican has a mid-90s fastball with a curve, slider, and changeup. In 2024 at High-A, the 24-year-old pitched to a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and had 38 strikeouts in 29 1/3 IP. While he may make his major league debut at some point in 2025, he is not on the fantasy radar at this point.
5 days ago   
Dylan Cease  • SP  •  Padres

Orioles Interested In Acquiring Dylan Cease

The Baltimore Orioles are in the market for pitching help as it seems less and less likely that free-agent right-hander Corbin Burnes will be returning to the team in 2025, so the O's are reportedly interested in acquiring the Padres' Dylan Cease. The 28-year-old is set to become a free agent in 2026 and the Padres may be willing to trade him if they think they won't be able to re-sign him after next season. The righty finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting last season and was the AL runner-up in 2022. The former sixth-round draft pick threw a no-hitter for San Diego last season and remarkably allowed just one hit on five other occasions where he pitched at least six innings. The six-year veteran will be a strong fantasy option in 2025 drafts regardless of where he ends up.
6 days ago   
Cal Mitchell  • RF  •  Padres

Cal Mitchell, White Sox Agree To Minors Deal

Free-agent outfielder Cal Mitchell and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a minor-league deal on Sunday that includes an invite to major-league spring training, according to sources. The 25-year-old outfielder has a .627 career OPS in 71 career big-league games with the Pittsburgh Pirates but did hit an impressive .277/.359/.512 with an .871 OPS, a career-high 22 home runs, 70 RBI, 12 stolen bases and 69 runs scored in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League for Triple-A El Paso in the San Diego Padres organization in 122 games this past season. Mitchell went hitless in five plate appearances over two games for Pittsburgh in 2023 and batted .226 (48-for-212) with five homers and 17 RBI in 69 games in his rookie season with the Bucs back in 2022. He'll have a better chance to make an impact again at the major-league level in 2025 with the White Sox as a reserve outfielder.
Dec 3   
Tirso Ornelas  • LF  •  Padres

Tirso Ornelas Showing Well In Mexican Winter League

San Diego Padres outfield prospect Tirso Ornelas was added to the team's 40-man roster in July of last season, prompting speculation that there was a chance fans could see him inside Petco Park before the conclusion of 2024. That did not come to fruition, but Ornelas had a solid season at Triple-A nonetheless, slashing .297/.367/.497 with 23 home runs and a below-average strikeout rate of 16.1%. The 24-year-old has carried over that success into the Mexican Winter League while playing for the Charros de Jalisco. San Diego's 17th-ranked prospect is slashing .314/.419/.524 with five home runs and seven stolen bases in 30 games (124 PA). The Padres are likely set in the outfield at the moment with Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, and assuming they bring back free agent Jurickson Profar, but at the very least, Ornelas looks like a potential bench bat for 2025. If the Padres lose out on Profar, Ornelas could become fantasy-relevant, so it's a situation worth monitoring.
Dec 3   
Tyler Wade  • 3B  •  Padres

Tyler Wade Staying In San Diego

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, infielder Tyler Wade and the San Diego Padres have agreed to a one-year, $900,000 contract to avoid arbitration. The 30-year-old posted an underwhelming .217/.285/.239 slash line with just three doubles and eight stolen bases across 90 games in 2024. Despite his underwhelming output, fantasy managers should expect Wade to likely operate as a depth option for San Diego in 2025 and to see occasional starts at multiple positions across the infield. Given his poor output last season, Wade should remain off all fantasy radars heading into 2025, as he will face an uphill battle to find consistent playing time on a stacked roster.
Nov 23   
Trenton Brooks  • 1B  •  Padres

Trenton Brooks Signs Minors Deal With Padres

Free-agent first baseman Trenton Brooks signed a minor-league deal with the San Diego Padres. Brooks will stay in the National League West division after making his major-league debut with the San Francisco Giants in 2024. The 29-year-old former 17th-round pick by the Cleveland Guardians in 2016 out of the University of Nevada only played in 12 games for the Gigantes and went 3-for-25 (.120) with an RBI, stolen base and three runs scored while striking out six times. The left-handed hitter was much better in the minors in 94 games with Triple-A Sacramento, slashing a robust .302/.410/.453 with an impressive .863 OPS, 10 home runs, 58 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 62 runs scored in 407 plate appearances. Brooks will likely start the 2025 season with the Padres in Triple-A El Paso as he looks to work his way back to the majors.
Nov 20   
Ethan Salas  • C  •  Padres

Ethan Salas Hits Fourth AFL Home Run On Thursday

San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run on Thursday, his fourth of the Arizona Fall League (AFL) campaign. Salas now has 21 RBI which is tied for third-most in the AFL, but is hitting just .228 and has a 13:27 BB:K over 23 games. Still, the 18-year-old is one of the youngest players in the AFL, competing against older, more seasoned pitchers. The youngster ranks as the Padres' top prospect and 19th in all of baseball but isn't expected to make his debut for a couple of years yet. Nevertheless, he's a strong defender already and has all the tools to make it to the big leagues with the potential to be a star, so fantasy managers should take notice.
Nov 15   
Ethan Salas  • C  •  Padres

Ethan Salas Swipes Two Bags In 2024 Fall Stars Game

San Diego Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas went 1-for-1 with a walk and two stolen bases in the 2024 Fall Stars Game. The backstop was able to swipe second and third base after drawing a lead-off walk in the third inning. At only 18 years old, Salas has been holding his own in the Arizona Fall League as he carried a solid .256/.366/.449 slash line with three home runs, six doubles, 19 RBI, and four stole bases. Last season, the top prospect in San Diego spent the entire campaign with High-A Fort Wayne and faced some growing pains as he posted an overall .206/.288/.311 line with just four home runs in 111 games. Despite his underwhelming performances last summer, Salas remains one of the top catching prospects in the sport and could spend most of the 2025 campaign with Double-A if he continues to progress during the offseason.
Nov 10   
Luis Arraez  • 1B  •  Padres

Luis Arraez Has Thumb Surgery, Expected To Be Ready For Opening Day

San Diego Padres infielder Luis Arraez (thumb) had surgery on his thumb on Wednesday to repair a torn left thumb ligament. Having all offseason to recover, the 27-year-old is expected to be ready to go on Opening Day. The 3x All-Star was a key piece to the Padres' run to the playoffs after coming over from the Marlins in May, hitting .318 with a .324 wOBA and 111 wRC+ on his way to a third batting title with his third different team. While he's one of the best contact hitters in all of baseball, he doesn't move the needle all that much for fantasy as he doesn't hit for power which also results in low RBI numbers, and for someone who always seems to be on base, he does not swipe many bags.
Oct 17   
Ha-Seong Kim  • SS  •  Padres

Ha-Seong Kim Undergoes Shoulder Surgery

San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) underwent shoulder surgery on Thursday, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic. Kim has been sidelined since Aug. 20 with shoulder inflammation. He attempted to return in time for October but was ultimately shut down late into September after facing several setbacks. Through 121 games this summer, the 28-year-old posted a .233/.330/.370 slash line with 11 home runs and 22 stolen bases. He held a stellar 12.3% walk rate and 16.4% strikeout rate, which gave him a significant boost in points leagues. Fantasy managers should monitor his progression over the winter, but he should be ready to return in time for spring training. Kim remains a solid low-end shortstop in rotisserie leagues given his ability to steal bases and hit for decent power.
Oct 12   
Joe Musgrove  • SP  •  Padres

Joe Musgrove Undergoes Tommy John Surgery On Friday

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) underwent his Tommy John surgery on Friday with Dr. Keith Meister. Musgrove felt tightness in his elbow in his start in Game 2 of the Wild-Card Series against the Atlanta Braves on Oct. 2 and needed TJ surgery, which will keep him out for the entire 2025 season. Elbow issues -- he also dealt with a bone spur in his right elbow -- sent the 31-year-old to the injured twice in 2024, but this elbow issue is obviously much more serious. Musgrove looked off early on in 2024 but bounced back to finish with a decent 3.88 ERA (3.96 FIP), a 1.17 WHIP and a 101:23 K:BB in 99 2/3 innings over his 19 starts. It's now back-to-back injury-plagued seasons for the veteran right-hander, and his fantasy stock will surely be depressed when he returns to the mound in 2026 after a year off. The good news is his strikeout rate was basically the same this year as it was in his All-Star season of 2022.
Oct 12   
Dylan Cease  • SP  •  Padres

Dylan Cease To Start NLDS Game 4 On Short Rest

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease is listed as the team's starting pitcher for Wednesday's National League Division Series Game 4 against the Dodgers. The 28-year-old, who pitched 3 1/3 innings on Saturday in Game 1 of the series, will get the nod ahead of his typical schedule with Joe Musgrove (elbow) needing Tommy John surgery and the Padres up 2-1 in the series. While Cease had solid regular-season stats, he got hit around by the Dodgers in game 1, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He may rise to the occasion in a series-clinching game, but Cease's previous performance and lack of regular rest make him an uneasy DFS play.
Oct 9   
Robert Suarez  • RP  •  Padres

Robert Suarez Earns Four-Out Save In NLDS Game 3

San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez came up clutch in Tuesday's National League Division Series 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Suarez came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth inning up by one with two outs and a runner on first. He induced a pop-out and stayed in to pitch the ninth, turning in a 1-2-3 effort with two strikeouts. The 33-year-old had a breakout season, going 9-3 with 36 saves to go with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and a 22.9% strikeout rate in 65 innings of work. He has yet to allow a run in three post-season appearances, picking up two saves with a 0.30 WHIP and two strikeouts in 3 1/3 IP. Suarez was one of fantasy's most reliable closers in the regular season, making him a strong DFS option for the playoffs.
Oct 9   
Fernando Tatis Jr.  • RF  •  Padres

Fernando Tatis Jr. Hits Fourth Homer Of Postseason Tuesday

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. continued his torrid offensive postseason in Tuesday's National League Division Series Game 3 6-5 win over the Dodgers. Tatis Jr. went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. The 25-year-old capped off a six-run second inning, obliterating an 0-2 Walker Buehler fastball into the left-field seats. Tatis Jr. put together a solid offensive regular season and has been on fire in the postseason, batting .556 with four HR and seven RBI in 18 at-bats. The Padres' lineup has performed well throughout the playoffs as well, making Tatis Jr. a standout DFS play.
Oct 9   
Xander Bogaerts  • 2B  •  Padres

Xander Bogaerts In Game 3 Lineup Against Dodgers

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (hamstring) is starting at shortstop and hitting sixth for the Friars for Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday at Petco Park against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler. Donovan Solano will start on the bench, with David Peralta serving as the designated hitter and batting seventh. Bogaerts had to leave the Game 2 win on Sunday after hitting a home run due to a hamstring cramp, but after a day off on Monday, the 32-year-old is ready to go again. He's gone 3-for-8 with the homer and three RBI in the first two games of the NLDS but has just one hit in seven career at-bats with a strikeout against Buehler. Meanwhile, Peralta, who also homered in Game 2, has hit .226 (7-for-31) with two doubles, three RBI, four walks and six strikeouts against Buehler in his career.
Oct 8   
Dylan Cease  • SP  •  Padres

Dylan Cease Not Ruled Out For Game 4 Start

When asked whether San Diego Padres right-hander Dylan Cease on short rest would be able to start Game 4 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Petco Park against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, manager Mike Shildt said, "All options are on the table." With Joe Musgrove (elbow) needing Tommy John surgery, the two options for Game 4 figure to be Cease and veteran left-hander Martin Perez. If the Padres turn to Cease on Wednesday, Yu Darvish, who was masterful on Sunday in the Game 2 win, would likely start a potential Game 5 back at Dodger Stadium. Cease had some ups and downs in his first year in SD in 2024 but was mostly dominant and threw a no-hitter after narrowly missing one several years ago with the White Sox. He was off his game in the Game 1 loss on Saturday, allowing five earned runs while walking two and fanning five in just 3 1/3 innings.
Oct 8   
Fernando Tatis Jr.  • RF  •  Padres

Fernando Tatis Jr. Stays Red Hot, Collects Three Extra-Base Hits

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. bashed two homers en route to a 10-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday. Tatis finished the game 3-for-4 with a double, two homers, three runs scored, and three RBI. Not a bad day at the office. He was also hit by a pitch by Jack Flaherty after homering and doubling off him, which caused some fireworks. The Dodgers can't seem to get Tatis out, as he has gone 5-for-8 in the first two games of this series and is now sitting at a ridiculous 9-for-14 in the playoffs as a whole. He is making an early bid for playoff MVP, although there is obviously a long way to go yet.
Oct 7   
Xander Bogaerts  • 2B  •  Padres

Xander Bogaerts Leaves Game Early After Homering

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (hamstring) left Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning due to hamstring cramping. Bogaerts felt the discomfort earlier in the game, but was able to play through it and actually homered in the eighth before leaving. It is most likely a precautionary measure, as the Padres were up 7-1 when Bogaerts was removed. He said he thinks he will be fine, so expect to see him back in the lineup for Game 3 barring a setback.
Oct 7   
Manny Machado  • 3B  •  Padres

Manny Machado Goes Deep In Game 1 Of NLDS

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado went 1-for-5 with a two-run shot in their loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLDS. Machado put the Padres up early as he hit a two-run homer in the opening frame off Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which scored Fernando Tatis Jr. Machado tallied two RBI in the Wild Card series against the Atlanta Braves and is continuing to serve as a focal point of the offense in the NLDS. DFS players should always consider putting Machado in their lineup, given his upside for power and scoring opportunities batting in the heart of a potent lineup. Machado held a solid .275 AVG this season with 29 long balls and 11 stolen bases. He will face Dodger right-hander Jack Flaherty on Sunday evening in Game 2 and will likely bat in the cleanup spot as he has done through most of the summer.
Oct 6   
LEGEND