What is the story about?
Jake Cronenworth has been a mainstay in the San Diego Padres organization since 2020 when he came to San Diego in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Cronenworth has proven himself to be a versatile defender who can play multiple positions at a high level. His offense has been an area of inconsistency during his time with the Padres and he has been unable to recreate the success he had at the plate in 2021. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball looks at the value Cronenworth brings to the major league roster
and how he can be a key to the team’s success in 2026.
Padres News:
- Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote a story about Padres pitcher Yu Darvish walking away from baseball and his contract, but the report was deemed premature. Acee himself stated the wording used in the report could have been better. No matter when Darvish decides to call it a career, Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball says fans should appreciate Darvish for the player he has been with the Padres and the man he has shown himself to be.
- The Padres announced their 2026 promotional schedule and some of the hottest items each year are the bobbleheads. There are nine bobblehead giveaways this year with six regular season ticket items and three theme game ticket items. Gaslamp Ball asked readers which bobblehead would get them to Petco Park.
- Shaun O’Neill of Padres.com says that if Joe Musgrove can return to the pitcher he was from 2021 to 2024 following Tommy John surgery that kept him out all of 2025, he might be the most important player on the current Padres roster.
- 2025 was a breakout year for reliever Adrian Morejon. He established himself not only as the top left-hander in the Padres’ bullpen, but he might well be the best left-handed reliever in MLB. Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune looks at how Morejon can be more dominant in 2026 in his latest Padres roster review.
Baseball News:
- New Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado waived his no-trade clause to be shipped from the St. Louis Cardinals to Arizona this offseason. He had the opportunity to change teams in 2024 with a trade to the Houston Astros but blocked the deal with his no-trade clause. Arenado sheds light on what went into his decision making then and now.
- Aaron Judge will return to the cover of MLB The Show 26 after being the cover athlete in 2018. Judge is just the second player in the game’s history to make the cover more than once.
- Willi Castro was announced as the latest player to be added to the Puerto Rico World Baseball Classic Team.
- The trade deadline for the 2026 MLB season has been set for Aug. 3 according to MLB Trade Rumors.
