It is no secret the San Diego Padres need to add to their starting rotation.
Michael King was signed to a three-year, $75 million contract and has been the biggest free agent splash of the offseason for
San Diego. He joins starters Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, who is returning after missing the entire 2025 season recovering from elbow surgery, but the final two spots in the five-man rotation are anything but settled.
Those two spots could turn into three if the rumors about a potential trade of Pivetta comes to fruition at some point this offseason. Reports after the MLB Winter Meetings stated the Padres and the New York Mets had discussions involving several players with Pivetta being highlighted as part of a “blockbuster” deal, but those conversations have seemingly cooled. Of course, major league-ready pitching was mentioned as a possible return for San Diego, but those pitchers would have limited experience in the big leagues or no experience at all at the MLB level.
The Padres could address their pitching needs on the trade market, as San Diego has been linked to names like MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals and Edward Cabrera of the Miami Marlins, but no trade is imminent. However, there are quite a few free agent pitchers available.
If the Padres are willing to spend to address their pitching needs but want to stay away from the top of the market with names like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez or Tatsuya Imai, they should consider free agent starter Chris Bassitt. The right-hander spent the 2025 season with the Blue Jays and finished 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA. He pitched 170.1 innings and compiled 166 strikeouts. Perhaps most important he started 31 games. That type of production is what the Padres need if they are going to replace Cease.
Bassitt presents as the type of pitcher that we have come to enjoy in San Diego. He is a hardnosed, intense pitcher who has a different demeanor when he takes his turn on the mound each week. He carries himself much like King, Pivetta, Musgrove and Jake Peavy before all of them. Adding another fiery arm to the rotation with the durability and success of Bassitt is something the Padres should do as soon as possible.
Bassitt has the experience of an 11-year career and while the majority of that was spent pitching in the American League, he has shown he can pitch in the National League as well as a member of the Mets in 2022. At 36 years old, Bassitt is surely looking to pitch for a contender and might not mind a short-term deal, which makes him a fit in San Diego.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted Bassitt will receive a two-year, $45 million contract and listed the Padres as a potential fit in a November article. To add credibility to his predictions, Bowden had King receiving a three-year, $75 million contract and listed the Padres as potential suitors. Could San Diego and Bassitt make Bowden right again? Maybe not at $45 million but as we get closer to January that number could come down and the Padres might be able to lengthen their rotation with another free agent signing.
