Free agency has opened, and the Padres head into the offseason missing many of the pieces that carried them to this year's playoffs. The Padres Hot Tub crew, with guest Justin Halpern, weighs who to bring back and who to replace in the aggregate. 🔄
Padres history, number by number: Ozzie Smith gets No. 1, Alan Wiggins No. 2, Khalil Greene No. 3, Wil Myers No. 4 and Steve Garvey No. 6. Jack Clark's 104-walk 1990 earns 00, and Samad Taylor edges Raffy Lopez for 0. 🔢
Padres' rotation is the offseason priority after King opted out and Pivetta's option was declined. Buehler, Ray, Mize, Giolito and Canning also hit free agency, leaving Randy Vásquez as the lone sure returner. Morejon got a qualifying offer. 🧱
Padres offseason menu: Bruce Bochy, who managed San Diego from 1995-2006 and led the 1998 World Series team, is on the Hall of Fame's 2027 Contemporary Era ballot (vote Dec. 6 in San Diego). Lefty Luis Gutierrez joined the 40-man roster, and Kaima Taira is a potential rotation fit. 🧢
Padres added LHP Luis Gutierrez, their No. 12 prospect, to the 40-man roster as 24 minor leaguers hit free agency. The 23-year-old, limited to 36 innings by a shoulder injury, is the top internal rotation option and is guaranteed a Spring Training look. 🔒
Padres bullpen status: Ben Fritz left to be Arizona's pitching coach, and Adrián Morejón is a free agent. Matsui, Hart and Peralta are back, with Estrada and Mason Miller arbitration-eligible. Only Morejón is missing from a unit that should stay a strength. 🔒
Mason Miller is a finalist, and the likely favorite, for the NL's inaugural Reliever of the Year Award. He posted a 1.67 ERA, tied for the NL lead with 38 saves, and set a Padres reliever record with 129 strikeouts in 70 innings. Winner announced Nov. 11. 🔒
Padres reliever Miller is a finalist, and reportedly the likely favorite, for the first-ever NL Reliever of the Year award. Winners are announced the week of Nov. 9. The new honor could give the bullpen a trophy of its own. 🏆
Michael King earned an A+ for 2026: 3.21 ERA over a career-high 185 innings, anchoring the rotation while Pivetta and Musgrove were hurt. He declined his $28M option and is now a free agent, so the Padres' "all in" talk gets its test. 💰
Padres' $23.15M qualifying offer to Adrian Morejon tops Edwin Díaz's $23M reliever AAV record by $150K for one year. Accepting looks likely, though a strong multiyear offer elsewhere could change things. 💰
The Padres extended a $23.15M qualifying offer to lefty Adrian Morejon, who has until Nov. 17 to decide. Declining looks likelier, which would net San Diego a Draft pick if he signs elsewhere. No offer for Ty France, so he leaves with no compensation. 🔒
MLB Trade Rumors (Padres): Padres Select Luis Gutierrez
Miguel Andújar, Lucas Giolito and Griffin Canning are headed to free agency after mutual options were declined, leaving openings. A.J. Preller now has to turn them into real 2027 upgrades, with rotation depth the clearest need. 🔍
Sandy Alderson, Padres CEO from 2005-09 when San Diego won NL West titles in 2005 and '06, is on the Hall of Fame's Contemporary Baseball Era ballot alongside Bruce Bochy. Results arrive Dec. 6; 75% needed. Front-office résumé, now under review. 🏛️
Padres picked up Kyle Hart's $2.5M option, while Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta opted into 2027. They declined Nick Pivetta's option and mutual options on Canning and Giolito. Ty France and Freddy Fermin were shut out of Gold Gloves. 🧤
Yuki Matsui is staying put after declining his opt-out, sparing the Padres a bullpen search. But his 1.83 ERA came with 5.1 walks per nine and a 4.18 FIP, so expecting a repeat is a stretch. Depth and strike-throwers still belong on the shopping list.
Dustin Harris earned an A+ in Padres roster grades: a .322 average, 14 RBI and 18 runs in 28 games after an August minor-league signing. A .278 xBA hints at some luck, but he'll get a shot at the 2027 left field job. 📈
Padres keep three lefties for 2027: Yuki Matsui (1.83 ERA) and Wandy Peralta opted in, and Kyle Hart's option was picked up. That's cover while Adrian Morejon nears free agency, with a qualifying offer deadline Monday at 2 p.m. PT. 🔒
MLB Trade Rumors (Padres): Miguel Andujar, Lucas Giolito, Griffin Canning Enter Free Agency After Declined Mutual Options
Padres picked up Kyle Hart's $2.5MM option for 2027, and Yuki Matsui declined his opt-out, so he stays put. Matsui is the bigger piece: a 3.17 ERA over 190 relief innings since 2024, with a $7MM player option still ahead for 2028. 🔒
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