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The 2024 campaign was a smashing success for the Padres, as San Diego won 93 games, second-most in franchise history. The Padres saw Jackson Merrill blossom from prospect to star, while Dylan Cease and Michael King emerged as the team’s co-aces. However, with a significant amount of money already committed for 2025, San Diego wasn’t particularly active this winter.
Notable Additions
- SP Kyle Hart (Did not pitch in MLB last season – KBO)
- OF Jason Heyward (1.2 bWAR in 2024)
- 1B/OF Connor Joe (0.6 bWAR)
- RP Ron Marinaccio (0.2 bWAR)
It was a much quieter offseason for the Padres, somewhat expected given how much money San Diego has committed for 2025. The Padres didn’t sign any player this winter past one year, including Connor Joe.
Joe was non-tendered by the Pirates in November after he posted a .688 OPS last season. His biggest asset is his ability to work counts — Joe has a career .337 OBP — to get on base.
The other notable signing was of Kyle Hart, the ex-Red Sox who signed a one-year, $1MM deal with a $5MM club option for 2026. It’s a low-risk move for the Padres and a bet that Hart can sustain the success he had with NC in the KBO last year. Hart struck out 182 batters over 159 frames and posted a 2.69 ERA.
The 32-year-old is competing for the team’s #5 spot in the rotation.
Notable Losses
- C Kyle Higashioka (1.4 bWAR)
- INF Ha-Seong Kim (2.6 bWAR)
- SP Martin Perez (0.9 bWAR, 1.0 bWAR with Padres)
- OF Jurickson Profar (3.6 bWAR)
- INF Donovan Solano (1.0 bWAR)
- RP Tanner Scott (4.0 bWAR, 0.7 bWAR with Padres)
The Padres are projected to finish above the $241MM tax threshold in 2025. And even though rumors swirled that San Diego was going to off money — Luis Arraez, Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Robert Suarez all had their names thrown around in trade rumors — none of that came to fruition.
However, San Diego couldn’t retain many key pieces from their 2024 team.
Kyle Higashioka, who took over the Padres’ catching job last season and blasted 17 home runs after midseason adjustments, signed with the Rangers. Ha-Seong Kim signed with the Rays, leaving Xander Bogaerts — who fit well at second base (+6 OAA) — as the probable shortstop.
The most notable losses, though, were of Jurickson Profar and Tanner Scott. Both signed with National League rivals.
Profar signed a three-year deal with the Braves, as he cashed in after a career season that saw him belt 24 home runs. Scott, meanwhile, took over the Dodgers’ closer job after he signed a four-year deal from rival Los Angeles.
What to Expect in 2025
The Padres still have their stars. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado headline a lineup that’s still deep, while their rotation — even without Joe Musgrove –has two 200+ strikeout pitchers and Yu Darvish, who’s currently dealing with elbow inflammation.
It does sting that the Padres lost pieces like Kim, Profar, and even Martin Perez, who helped fill out the back-end of their rotation nicely.
Those names were unheralded stars. Kim’s range at short made him a stronger fit at the position than Bogaerts, who will move back to short after San Diego pushed him off in 2024. And for Profar, his power and ability to work counts made him one of the game’s most underrated players.
While the Padres should remain competitive in the NL Wild Card race, San Diego won’t have it as easy in 2025.
More must-reads:
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- Guardians executive opens up about Emmanuel Clase investigation, what comes next
- The 'MLB mascot names' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Yankees Trade Hours Before Rays Game Draws Attention
The New York Yankees have been busy making moves as the trade deadline looms, and it doesn’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon. Fresh off the addition of Ryan McMahon to bolster their lineup, the Yankees are shaking things up once again. This time, it’s not about who they’ve brought in, but rather who they’ve decided to part ways with, and it involves a familiar name who spent just a single season in pinstripes. Jack Curry reported on the trade on X saying, “The Yankees have traded Carlos Carrasco to the Braves for a PTBNL [player to be named later] or cash.” Given that the trade took place a few days before the deadline and just hours before a series opener at home against the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, fans had a lot to say. One fan said, "HAL WASNT LYING! THEYRE EXTREMELY ACTIVE." Another fan added, "CASH CONSIDERATIONS IS ON FIRE THIS TRADE DEADLINE!!!!" "CASHMAN YOU BEAST," said a fan. Another fan commented, "Gonna be the new Jessie Chavez" "Weird trade," said a fan not convinced with the move. Another fan said, "what does this look like? a NURSING HOME?! bffr." The Yankees picked up Carrasco on a minor-league deal back in February, and thanks to early injuries to Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil, he found himself in the Opening Day rotation. Unfortunately, things didn’t go smoothly. Carrasco struggled in his eight appearances (six starts) with New York, posting a 5.91 ERA and recording 25 strikeouts over 32 innings. He was designated for assignment on May 6 and sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre two days later. He got a brief recall on June 1 but was quickly designated again on June 3, staying in the organization since then. In Triple-A, though, he turned things around, putting up a solid 3.27 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) over 52 1/3 innings. While the Yankees are still in the hunt for veteran pitching, Carrasco wasn’t viewed as a big-league option for them. Instead, he now heads to Atlanta, where he’ll have a real shot at earning a rotation spot. Across his MLB career with the Cleveland Guardians, New York Mets and Yankees, Carrasco has a 4.18 ERA in 332 games (283 starts).
Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
The Boston Bruins have been under pressure to retool after a disappointing season, and now a potential blockbuster move could shake the entire NHL. A major trade proposal has surfaced that could send a star goaltender to the Edmonton Oilers, a move that would give them the elite presence they've lacked in net while forcing Boston closer to a rebuild. The deal being floated by multiple outlets would send Edmonton's current starter, Stuart Skinner, along with Matthew Savoie, Beau Akey, and a 2028 first-round pick to Boston, while the Oilers land a goaltender capable of changing their Cup window overnight. Edmonton's push for a franchise goalie could reshape the Western Conference and challenge the Dallas Stars' path to the Cup If this trade goes through, the Oilers would instantly address one of their biggest weaknesses, setting up a showdown with teams like the Dallas Stars, who already see Edmonton as one of their toughest rivals. Boston, on the other hand, would fully commit to a rebuild, pairing Joonas Korpisalo with Skinner in what could be one of the NHL's weakest tandems, likely boosting their draft lottery odds in one of the most hyped draft classes in recent memory (NHL.com). An insider noted, "They weren't the only ones who had inquired about Swayman, but yes, I was told they poked around." That comment shows just how wide the interest is for this level of goalie talent (Heavy.com). I think this kind of trade would completely shift the balance of power in the West, making Edmonton even more dangerous for teams like Dallas, who could end up facing a vastly upgraded Oilers team in the playoffs. If Boston truly embraces a rebuild, moving their top goaltender could be the first domino in a massive roster overhaul, something that could shake the market for weeks.
Maple Leafs Top Prospect Shatters Expectations at World Junior Showcase
The World Junior Summer Showcase is in full swing, and Maple Leafs top prospect Ben Danford is shattering expectations, truly proving how good of a player he can be. The Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive prospect, Ben Danford, is among the 44 players who were invited to Hockey Canada's World Juniors Summer Showcase. Hockey Canada finally unveiled the 44 prospects who will head to Minnesota for the showcase, after they held the roster release back while the organization dealt with several injuries, which begins Sunday and runs through August 2 in Minneapolis. Defensive prospect Ben Danford is the only Maple Leafs player invited to the annual showcase, where Canada's World Junior staff will get their first look at what their team might look like for the 2026 World Juniors, which will also take place in Minnesota in December. Danford is being called the best player at the World Juniors Summer Showcase Danford has been exceeding expectations, and one source revealed that he has been the best player at the World Junior Showcase so far. The source said Danford is steady, smart, and hard to ignore on the ice. 'Ben Danford has been the best player at the World Junior Showcase he's steady, smart, and impossible to ignore. Makes every shift count, whether he's breaking up plays or starting the rush. Canada's blue line is in good hands.' - An unnamed source The Maple Leafs selected Danford with their first pick (31st overall) at the 2024 NHL Draft. During his visit to Toronto's development camp earlier this month, the defender revealed that he's receiving mentorship from current Leafs defensemen as well as some alumni like Mark Giordano. The 6-foot-2 Danford could make for an excellent fit for Canada should he make the team. He is responsible in his own end, and he demonstrated leadership capabilities when he was named captain of the Oshawa Generals ahead of the 2024-25 OHL season.
Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
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