What is the story about?
Pitchers and catchers report to Peoria, Ariz. today to open Spring Training for the San Diego Padres. There are still questions about both groups and there are several ways to get answers according to Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball. Will the fourth and fifth starters be players already on the Padres roster or will someone be added via free agency or trade? Does Luis Campusano finally fulfill the expectations that have allowed him to be one of very few minor leaguers under San Diego general manager
A.J. Preller to remain in the system and not be traded elsewhere? These questions and others will be addressed in the coming weeks and with camp opening for the Padres we can officially say baseball is back.
Padres News:
- Miguel Andujar might not have been what the Friar Faithful wanted, but he is what we got – for now. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball says fans should be excited about the signing and adds the Padres are in a better place with Andujar in the lineup than they were last year with the likes of Jason Heyward and Connor Joe.
- AJ Cassavell of Padres.com took a look at the players on the 40-man roster and took a shot at building the roster that Padres fans might see when the team opens the regular season. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune performed the same exercise as both writers attempted to forecast their best guesses for manager Craig Stammen’s 2026 team.
- Speaking of Stammen, he opens his first season with the Padres as the manager after he got the position following a lengthy search, which included candidates like Ruben Niebla and Albert Pujols. Stammen pitched out of the bullpen for San Diego and has never coached at the big-league level and will now lead his former team from the top step of the dugout. He is already getting support from players like Joe Musgrove, Gavin Sheets, Michael King and Jake Cronenworth, but as Stammen recently stated, he hasn’t had to make a decision yet.
Baseball News:
- The Boston Red Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers reached an agreement on a six-player trade that sent Caleb Durbin, who was the runner-up in 2025 National League Rookie of the Year voting, to Boston. The Red Sox also received two other players and a Competitive Balance Round B pick. The Brewers got left-hander Kyle Harrison and two additional players in return.
- The Philadelphia Phillies are looking to trade outfielder Nick Castellanos and they would reportedly like to do so before the first full-squad workout for the Phillies. Philadelphia also does not expect ace Zack Wheeler to be ready for Opening Day.
- One of the biggest free agent signings of the offseason for the Chicago White Sox was Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami. The organization made a great impression Monday when the nameplate above his locker in their Spring Training facility read, “Munetaki Murakami.”
- The New York Yankees and Athletics agreed to a trade Monday that sent Max Schuemann to New York in exchange for a minor league pitcher.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates made another free agent addition to their roster when they agreed to a one-year contract with Marcell Ozuna.
- Free agent right-hander Nick Martinez agreed to a one-year, $13 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.
- Free agent right-hander Chris Paddack and the Miami Marlins agreed to a deal that will allow Paddack to return to the organization that drafted him.
- Free agent right-hander Eric Fedde and the White Sox agreed to a one-year deal.
