Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
The San Diego Padres entered Spring Training with questions about their starting pitching rotation. There were rumors in the offseason about Mason Miller being converted back to a starter – he will not be. There was also talk about David Morgan and/or Brian Hoeing being stretched
out to become starters because the Padres knew they would not have much of their 2025 rotation returning. Morgan remains in the bullpen and Hoeing will be lost for the season after needing elbow surgery.
Dylan Cease reached free agency and signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. Michael King also reached free agency, but after time on the market he re-signed and returned to San Diego. Nick Pivetta was still on the team, but rumors about a possible trade involving Pivetta percolated in many of the early offseason conversations – he remains on the roster. It was announced that Yu Darvish would miss the entire 2026 season after offseason surgery on his elbow and Joe Musgrove was returning from his own surgery and what he could provide over 162-game season was unknown.
San Diego president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller turned to the free agent market, but after re-signing King, he seemed reluctant to add a free agent pitcher on much more than a minor league deal. He did add German Marquez and Griffin Canning on major league deals, but Marquez received a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027 for $1.75 million and Canning got a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2027 for $2.5 million. Other than Marquez and Canning, Walker Buehler, Marco Gonzales and Triston McKenzie were all added on minor league deals. JP Sears and Matt Waldron were already on the San Diego roster and were starting rotation options heading into Spring Training.
Padres manager Craig Stammen announced Monday that Musgrove would likely not be on the Opening Day roster after having difficulty bouncing back from his last throwing session and a start against Great Britain, who was preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Pivetta recently missed time with arm fatigue and recently returned, but there was a moment of concern for Padres fans.
The current San Diego rotation is:
- Michael King
- Nick Pivetta
- Randy Vasquez
- TBA
- TBA
The expectation is that Buehler and Marquez will occupy those positions because Canning will be out until sometime in May after recovering from his own injury that occurred last season. Gonzales was hammered his last time out against the Texas Rangers and McKenzie has had trouble with control throughout spring, but his velocity has been impressive. Sears has continued to allow home runs and Waldron is trying to work back to the mound after having surgery to address a hemorrhoid issue.
It would appear the San Diego rotation is in shambles with only King and Pivetta as front of the rotation pitchers. Vasquez will move up out of necessity, but that means the back of the rotation will be filled by some combination of Marquez, Buehler, Sears, Waldron, McKenzie and Gonzales at least until Canning is cleared to return. The typical disclaimer applies; this is assuming Preller does not make a trade to address the starting rotation like he did when he added Cease prior to the plane taking off for Korea to open the 2024 season.
Gaslamp Ball would like to know what your level of concern is regarding the Padres’ rotation with Opening Day just 10 days away. Results from the Padres Reacts Survey poll question will be announced later this week.
