The San Diego Padres made a splash at the trade deadline on Monday. They added two starting pitchers that will undoubtedly fix the “pitching chaos” issue that the team’s coaches and front office have had to address over the past couple of weeks. The additions of Casey Mize and Robbie Ray will help flesh out a rotation that has struggled mightily this season and recently consisted of two starters who haven’t actually been all that great themselves in Michael King and Walker Buehler.
Both Joe Musgrove
and Nick Pivetta have begun rehab assignments in their attempt to return from injury. It is wise not to count on either of them for any help in a stretch run to secure a playoff spot for a team on the outside looking in.
Two other pitchers figure to be significant in the next 48 games of the regular season. The last starting spot has to be filled by someone. And the bullpen needs a dominant lefty to complement the force that is Mason Miller.
The Padres definitely have the lefty in Adrián Morejón. They might have their fifth starter too.
Enter Rándy Vásquez
Right-hander Rándy Vásquez wasn’t scouted and signed by the Padres. The New York Yankees did that in 2018. He was acquired as part of the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees in 2023, along with fellow pitchers King and Jhony Brito.
Vásquez has great stuff. He has a seven-pitch mix that he has used to dominate at times. He has also had issues with consistency with his mechanics and an inability to be aggressive with his pitches. He nibbles around the outside of the plate and walks too many hitters.
From the start of this season to mid-May, Vásquez was the best starter the Padres had. He pitched to a 2.68 ERA in 50.1 innings and nine starts. Then things fell apart, and over his next 33.2 innings he had a 7.75 ERA, ending up on the injured list with a right ankle contusion after being hit by a batted ball.
It would not be a stretch to say that the 16 days he spent on the IL were not because of the contusion. That was a handy excuse to spend some time working on his approach, both mechanically and mentally. A coaching staff that features head pitching coach Ruben Niebla has appeared to be challenged with trying to keep Vásquez locked in. The Jekyll and Hyde nature of his performances frustrated fans while keeping the coaches on their toes. Finding that sweet spot that makes him a consistent pitcher has not occurred so far.
After coming off the injured list on July 19, Vásquez has been working in whatever role the team has asked. He has started and been a bulk reliever while appearing in six games and two starts. Over that time, he has thrown 15.6 innings and allowed three earned runs, for a 1.73 ERA.
His season started by featuring increased velocity on his four-seam fastball, and then we saw that velocity drop as the season went on and his stuff deteriorated.
Since returning from the IL, he has shown that 94-96 mph fastball and a sinker that sits 94-95 mph. After the offense spotted him six early runs in his start against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Vásquez threw 80 percent first-pitch strikes to the Snakes’ offense.
We have seen what Vásquez can do; the secret is to unlock some consistency with his performance. His start against Arizona gave the Padres their first quality start since Walker Buehler pitched on June 3. That needs to change for this team to be a playoff contender.
Maybe Rándy Vásquez can help change that narrative.
As a pre-arbitration player (free agent in 2031), Vásquez is the only pitcher on the roster who can be counted on to return next year into the starting rotation. It’s a priority to keep working to keep him right.
Adrián Morejón
It is no secret that lefty reliever Adrián Morejón is a quiet assassin. What may not be as well known is that his path to get there makes his success all the more meaningful.
Morejón defected from Cuba in 2015, at the age of 16. He went to the Dominican Republic to train and was declared an international free agent in 2016. He signed with the Padres in July of that year and was given an $11 million bonus. After working his way up in the minor league system, Morejón was named to the All-Star Futures Game as a Double-A pitcher in 2019. Right after his appearance, the Padres promoted him to the major league team, and he made his debut as a major league pitcher. He missed some time during his debut season with a left forearm strain.
He also missed most of 2020 with a shoulder injury, making his debut in August and pitching in nine games overall.
In 2021, he left a start in April with forearm tightness and subsequently had Tommy John surgery. After missing the rest of that season, and after his rehab stint in the minors in 2022, Morejón returned to the Padres in June but was again on the injured list with shoulder inflammation after only a couple of appearances. He returned that year, pitching only out of the bullpen and had a 4.24 ERA in 34 innings.
In 2023, Morejón sustained a left elbow sprain in spring training and missed most of the major league season while attempting to rehab the injury. He appeared in nine innings over eight appearances.
Finally healthy in 2024, Morejón pitched exclusively out of the bullpen. He established himself as a dominant lefty reliever with a 2.83 ERA in 63.2 innings with 71 strikeouts to 21 walks. He continued that trend last season, earning an All-Star nod and finishing with a 2.08 ERA in 73.2 innings pitched.
There was a discussion in the offseason about returning Morejón to the starting rotation, but it was quickly dismissed as being too risky, as well as depriving the bullpen of a dominant force.
Morejón has shown he can stay healthy and dominate as a high-leverage reliever in the Padres bullpen.
Highly desired by other teams at the recent trade deadline, Morejón expressed his desire to be a Padre after the deadline passed. He was quoted in an article by San Diego Union-Tribune writer Annie Heilbrunn on July 29.
“I know what’s going on for the trade deadline. I try not to think too much about that because it’s a little bit hard for me because I (have played) for 10 years with the Padres, so I don’t like if (a trade) happens. I prefer to stay here. I know it’s not my decision, but that’s why I try to pitch good, trying to help the team win.”
In a clubhouse interview on the Sunday before the trade deadline, Morejón made his feelings clear.
“Everybody knows that I want to stay here,” Morejón said through interpreter Pedro Gutierrez. “Even with free agency coming, they know I want to stay. This is the organization I’ve been a part of for more than 10 years. I’ve sacrificed a lot. I’m proud to be a member of the Padres. Hopefully that will continue.”
He has been used aggressively during the first two-thirds of this season by the team. He leads all Padres relievers with 60 innings pitched and has a 3.00 ERA. For the team to get where they want to go, Adrían Morejón is a key to their success. He could be the best lefty reliever in baseball right now. He definitely has the best ERA for all left-handers with his innings count. His ability to pitch more than one inning, as well as span his appearances over back-to-back games, makes him not only their best left-handed option but also highly flexible and reliable.
Despite his injury history, Morejon has found his role on the Padres and in baseball. Keeping him for the future should be a high priority for this team and the new owners.
