Welcome to our new series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
A Premier Setup Man
In two-plus
seasons with San Diego, Adam has posted a 2.08 ERA. Prior to 2026, the right-handed reliever posted consecutive sub-2.00 ERA seasons. He was the Padres’ go-to reliever for the eighth inning behind closer Robert Suarez. Southpaw Adrian Morejon has since turned into their setup man for closer Mason Miller following Adam’s subpar 2026 campaign.
Overall Grade: B-
Adam pitched to a 2.62 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and .233 opponent batting average in 2026. Those are phenomenal numbers, but the right-hander pitched just 34 1/3 innings after missing nearly three months down the stretch with a right shoulder strain. The lower grade is mostly due to that missed time. Adam missed the stretch run that saw San Diego go from a .500 ballclub to the top NL Wild Card spot.
Still, what Adam managed to do is impressive. He posted his first season under 2.0 WAR since 2023 due to the missed time. When he was on the mound prior to rehab, his injury was apparent in his performance. Adam simply couldn’t limit hard contact. The right-hander surrendered the same number of home runs (5) that he did in 2024, except in half of the innings (73.2 IP in ‘24 compared to 34.1 in ‘26).
The right-hander is set to be a free agent and should receive a large payday despite his injury-marred 2026 campaign. Adam has set himself up as one of the most consistently dominant relievers in all of baseball. He’s posted a sub-3.00 ERA in five consecutive seasons and a sub-2.00 ERA in three of those years. His game went up a notch after being traded to San Diego. It remains a possibility that he re-signs with the Friars, though Adam seems likely to depart in free agency.
