Padres find success where Blue Jays come up short

In some ways, the San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays are alike.

Both teams have taken aim at the top of the free-agent market over the past few years. The Blue Jays and Padres were finalists in the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes, with both being passed over for the Dodgers. While both teams have been able to land the occasional free agent, such as Anthony Santander heading to Toronto this past offseason, those free-agent success stories have been few and far between.

Likewise, the Padres and Blue Jays have sought to lock in key pieces of their core. The Blue Jays were able to sign catcher Alejandro Kirk to a five-year extension, but they have yet to come to terms with impending free-agent first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 

The Padres, meanwhile, have had far more success in retaining their players. Third baseman Manny Machado signed an 11-year extension, and pitcher Yu Darvish signed a six-year extension ahead of the 2023 season. The Padres have also had success locking in young stars, signing outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. to a 14-year extension in 2021.

The Padres continued to quietly lock in pieces of their core on Wednesday. Outfielder Jackson Merrill reportedly signed a nine-year contract extension worth $135 million. Merrill has said that he wants to be a Padre for life; he will stay in San Diego at least into the 2030s.

Signing Merrill to a long-term deal shows the difference between the Padres and Blue Jays. While the Blue Jays are public about their attempts — and subsequent failures — to lock in key pieces of their roster, the Padres negotiate out of the public eye. It is an approach that has worked as the Padres core will be in place for years to come. For the Blue Jays, that core could depart within the next few months.