The San Diego Padres are desperate for starting pitching and everyone knows it. That is why the club is rumored to be in on pitchers at every level of the market, including the top pitching free agent Tarik Skubal. Earlier this week it was also reported the Padres are in on the Japanese arms looking to transition to MLB as well as established veterans like Dustin May, Freddy Peralta, Nick Martinez and Matthew Boyd. San Diego is also reportedly interested in bringing back Michael King and Nick Pivetta.
With only a couple of weeks before the expiration of the CBA and the expected lockout on Dec. 1, the pitching additions could come fast and furious. Like most seasons, the first domino to fall is usually the top free agent. In this offseason that is Skubal. The left-hander is expected to have meeting with several clubs starting next week and one of those clubs is the Padres. Whether or not they have a legitimate chance to add the star pitcher is anyone’s guess, but if new owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones wanted to make a statement about their commitment to building a winning roster that would be one way to do it.
With so many needs in the San Diego rotation, the question has been whether or not committing a large sum of payroll to one arm like Skubal would be wise. For the same money the Padres might be able to bring back King and then add two or three additional starters like May, Martinez or Peralta. Of course there are also the Japanese pitchers to consider and what those monetary commitments would look like.
With all the talk about pitching this offseason, San Diego’s pursuit of another bat and the need to address first base has taken a back seat. Ty France remains unsigned but he just saw Jake Bauers parlay his season in Milwaukee into a lucrative contract with the Boston Red Sox. Perhaps that deal gives a framework for a France deal whether that is with the Padres or any other team.
General manager A.J. Preller has a stated he has a budget, what that is no one outside of the top brass in San Diego knows. The potential moves over the next two weeks could be very telling in that regard, but for now all anyone can do is wait and speculate.
Padres News:
- Joe Musgrove fought to get back to the San Diego rotation but was unable to do so until his dramatic return for relief innings in the playoffs. That was enough for Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball to hand him his grade for the 2026 season.
- Padres prospects playing for the Peoria Javelinas helped their team win an Arizona Fall League title.
- Outfielder Kala’i Rosario signed a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training with the Padres.
- Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune says Adrian Morejon should be celebrated for his 2026 season no matter what he decides to do in free agency.
- Jim Bowden of The Athletic said the Padres have been very aggressive this offseason.
- Brian Murphy of MLB.com looks at what allowed Jackson Merrill to have success in the second half of the 2026 season..
Baseball News:
- The Baltimore Orioles have reportedly reached out to the Arizona Diamondbacks about second baseman Ketel Marte.
- Here are the latest rumors around MLB.
