San Diego Padres Suddenly Announce 2 Free Agent Signings

The San Diego Padres quietly bolstered their lower-level talent pipeline on October 21, 2026, by signing two free agents to minor-league contracts, according to the official MiLB transaction log.

Outfielder Lenyert Rios and right-handed pitcher Alexis Medina, both Venezuelan natives with no prior professional statistics listed, represent the latest in a series of depth-oriented moves as the organization shifts focus from its postseason run to offseason roster construction.

Rios, listed as a 6-foot, 185-pound right-handed outfielder, was born September 8, 2006, in Maracay, Venezuela. At roughly 20 years old, he arrives with a blank professional slate on MiLB.com.

The signing adds another athletic outfield option to the Padres’ system, which has emphasized speed, contact, and upside in recent international and undrafted additions.

Some early social media chatter has referenced prior interest from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, though official records confirm the Padres as his new club under a standard minor-league agreement.

Medina, a 6-foot, 157-pound right-hander, is even younger—born December 23, 2008, in Palo Negro, Venezuela. That makes him approximately 17 years old at the time of the signing.

Like Rios, Medina has no recorded professional stats yet. The Padres’ decision to add a teenage arm fits a familiar pattern for general manager A.J. Preller and the front office: stock the Dominican Summer League and Complex League levels with projectable Venezuelan and Dominican talent who can develop under the organization’s coaching and analytical resources.

Medina’s slight frame suggests a pitcher with room to add strength, a common developmental profile for early international signings.

These deals arrive in the quiet period before full free agency opens after the World Series.

They are low-risk, non-40-man moves that do not affect the major-league roster or payroll. Similar minor-league free-agent signings earlier in October—such as the reported deal with Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Nogami—show the Padres continuing to cast a wide net for depth while evaluating larger winter targets.

Both Rios and Medina will likely begin their professional careers in the Dominican Summer League or Arizona Complex League in 2027, where the organization can assess their tools, work ethic, and long-term potential.

For a club that has invested heavily in player development and international scouting under Preller, these signings are routine but purposeful. They keep the pipeline full at the lowest levels, where most organizational depth is built.

Neither player is expected to impact the major-league club soon, but in a system that has produced contributors from similar paths, the Padres will give them every opportunity to climb.

As the offseason unfolds, attention will shift to higher-profile free agents and trade possibilities, yet the foundation continues to grow one minor-league contract at a time.