San Diego Padres Roster
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The San Diego Padres signed outfielder Nomar Mazara to a minor league deal that includes an invite to big-league spring training. Mazara was eligible to sign a minor league during MLB's lockout because he didn't finish the 2021 season on any team's 40-man roster after he was released by the Detroit Tigers in June. Mazara made his big-league debut at 20 years old in 2016, batting .266/.320/.419 with 20 home runs in 568 plate appearances in his rookie season. But the left-handed slugger never was able to break out and he posted below-average offensive numbers for the Texas Rangers before he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He struggled with Chicago in 2020 before slashing just .212/.276/.321 in 181 plate appearances for Detroit last year. The 26-year-old represents a low-cost depth option for a Padres team with plenty of questions at the corner outfield spots.
Right-hander Nick Martinez's four-year, $20 million deal with the San Diego Padres didn't quite make it through before the deadline on Wednesday night, so he technically remains a free agent with the sport's lockout beginning on Thursday. However, there's no reason to believe that the two sides won't finalize the agreement after a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is done. Martinez's deal includes opt-outs after the first and second seasons. The 31-year-old spent the last four years in Japan and had a very nice 1.62 ERA for the SoftBank Hawks last season. In his four seasons with the Texas Rangers before going overseas, he was 17-30 with a 4.77 ERA. It's unclear if San Diego's crowded starting rotation will have room for Martinez to begin the 2022 season.
The San Diego Padres agreed to a four-year, $20 million deal with right-hander Nick Martinez on Wednesday evening, according to sources familiar with the deal. The 31-year-old former Texas Ranger was excellent in Japan this past season for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, posting a 1.62 ERA. His contract with the Friars will include opt-outs after the first and second years. Martinez will be back in the big leagues for the first time since 2017 and was a back-of-the rotation arm in Texas before heading overseas. In his four seasons with the Rangers, he had a 4.77 ERA (5.36 FIP), 1.45 WHIP, 5.1 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 415 1/3 innings over 88 appearances (68 starts). Martinez could be an option as a long-relief arm out of the bullpen if he doesn't win a spot at the back end of San Diego's crowded starting rotation.
The San Diego Padres have signed relief pitcher Luis Garcia, according to a tweet from MLB Network's Jon Heyman. Per Heyman, the reliever will earn $7 million in two seasons, $500,000 of which is a signing bonus. The 34-year-old pitched to a 3.24 ERA and a 2.72 FIP in 33.1 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals last season, registering two saves, 34 strikeouts, and eight walks. He'll join a San Diego bullpen that also features Emilio Pagan, Pierce Johnson, Tim Hill, and Craig Stammen in high-leverage roles.
Catcher Jorge Alfaro is headed to the San Diego Padres, as the Miami Marlins have traded him in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Alfaro was expendable after the Marlins acquired 2021 Gold Glove-winning backstop Jacob Stallings from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Alfaro will fight for playing time with Austin Nola, Victor Caratini, and Luis Campusano. The Marlins also designated outfielder and former top prospect Lewis Brinson for assignment. Brinson has 1035 career at-bats, but has only managed a .570 OPS with 25 homers and nine steals. He'll seek to restart his career elsewhere in 2022.