The article argues that the Yankees should target reliever Adrian Morejon, a 50‑year‑old Padres free agent who logged 86 innings with a 2.83 ERA in 2026, rather than simply replacing closer David Bednar. Morejon appeared in 76 games, struck out 107 batters (30.4% K rate) and issued only 28 walks (8.0% BB rate), adding 28 holds. He proved versatile, limiting left‑handed hitters to a .461 OPS and right‑handed hitters to a .609 OPS, making him useful beyond a traditional left‑handed specialist role. While his 86‑inning workload isn’t guaranteed for next season and his price is unknown, the piece suggests he would give New York valuable flexibility in the bullpen.
The Washington Nationals’ shaky 2026 bullpen could be solved by signing 27‑year‑old left‑hander Adrian Morejon, one of the top free‑agent relievers. Morejon posted a sub‑3.00 ERA over 86 innings for the Padres, logged 103 strikeouts in 82.2 innings, and tied for the league lead with 42 shutdowns while averaging 99.4 MPH fastballs. Spotrac values him at three years, $35 million, roughly $11 million per season, and his advanced metrics rank in the 90th percentile across the board. Adding him could give Washington a reliable closer and lift a bullpen that struggled all year.
The San Diego Padres may target Yankees right‑hander Luis Gil as a low‑risk, high‑reward fix for their rotation overhaul. Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year who posted a 15‑win, 177‑strikeout season, has struggled with injuries—including Tommy John surgery, a lat strain and a shoulder strain—causing his fastball to drop from 97 mph to 94 mph and his walk rate to climb to 5.9%. Padres GM A.J. Preller, known for reviving troubled starters, could rely on pitching coach Ruben Niebla to tweak Gil’s mechanics and restore his rookie form. A trade would fill a potential vacancy in San Diego’s five‑spot rotation ahead of the 2027 season.
The Padres’ latest roster grades reveal Griffin Canning as a clear bust in 2026. Signed to a low‑cost, one‑year $2.5 million deal after a solid Mets season, Canning posted a 5.68 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a .276 opponent batting average across 30 appearances (11 starts). He struggled early, giving up three-plus runs in most starts and often allowing more runs than innings or strikeouts. However, after moving to bulk relief post‑July 18, he rebounded with a 2.70 ERA and only two outings worse than two runs. Overall, the Padres rate him a C, highlighting the gamble of low‑tier free‑agent signings.
In Week 3 of the Arizona Fall League, the Peoria Javelinas — featuring eight San Diego Padres prospects — go 4-1 to sit third in the six‑team league at 9-7, 1.5 games behind the Scottsdale Scorpions. Outfielder Alex McCoy shines, posting a .256 average, .989 OPS, four homers (including a 345‑foot, 118.2 mph blast, the season’s highest‑velocity home run) and 11 RBIs, though he leads the team with 17 strikeouts. Infielder Justin DeCriscio struggles at .167, while catcher/ DH Ty Harvey hits .182 and steals nine bases. Padres arms see mixed results: reliever Francis Peña posts a 0.00 ERA in 5.1 innings, whereas starters Kannon Kemp and Winyer Chourio each carry a 5.19 ERA. The update also notes Jase Bowen’s defensive impact and the Brewers’ 2‑0 World Series lead.
The Milwaukee Brewers, fresh off a 103‑win season, have swept the Padres, swept the Dodgers, and now lead the World Series 2‑0. Despite a modest 5‑1 record in one‑run games, their bullpen boasts an impressive 1.41/2.79/3.62 ERA over 44 2/3 innings, stifling late threats. Yet the Tampa Bay Rays, who hold a slight edge in the next two matchups (53% win chance for Gasser‑Peralta, 52.2% for Drohan‑Jax), could force a historic third loss for Milwaukee—a feat achieved only by the 2005 White Sox and 1999 Yankees. The article weighs the Rays' chances and whether the Brewers can stay unbeaten.
He didn't do much with the bat for Minnesota. Then he became one of San Diego's best hitters.
The Milwaukee Brewers rallied from a four‑run deficit to edge the Tampa Bay Rays 5‑4 in Game 6 of the World Series, extending their postseason winning streak to seven and improving to 9‑1 overall. Sam Frelick’s sixth‑ inning homer tied the game, and Brice Turang’s double followed by Cooper Pratt’s single gave Milwaukee the lead. The Rays missed key chances, striking out repeatedly and blowing a tying run at third base. Milwaukee now leads the series and could clinch the championship in Tampa Bay next Tuesday.
The Gaslamp Ball series grades every San Diego Padres 40-man roster member, and outfielder Jase Bowen earns a C‑/. In 2025 he posted a .272/.353/.449 line in the minors and a .292/.362/.600 slash in Triple‑A El Paso, but in his 83 MLB games he slumped to .146/.438 with just two homers. Despite limited starts, his defense shines (+2 Fielding Run Value, +1 OAA in 283 innings). The article argues Bowen needs more high‑level at‑bats—either a Triple‑A start or a strong Cactus League showing—to secure a spot on a crowded outfield.
Tarik Skubal, the top free‑agent left‑handed ace, is being linked to the San Diego Padres as new owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones pledge to bolster the roster. While Skubal could be the Padres’ Opening Day starter, his projected $400 million-plus contract raises questions for a club that has lost starters like Musgrove, Pivetta, Darvish and Michael King to injuries. The article weighs the allure of a marquee signing against the need to spread money across the rotation and lineup, suggesting a more balanced approach may serve the franchise better.
Walker Buehler, the veteran right‑hander who signed a minor‑league deal with the Padres, earns an unexpected A‑grade as the team’s surprise ace. After a rocky July (9.82 ERA) he rebounded with 13 starts of three earned runs or fewer, posting a 4.63 ERA over 153 2/3 innings and contributing 0.9 WAR in 2026—his first positive WAR since 2021. Buehler anchored the rotation alongside Michael King, logging 32 starts, the most by any Padre pitcher that season. His durability and late‑season surge helped stabilize San Diego’s staff despite a post‑Tommy John decline in previous years.
For the first time since 1980, the 2026 World Series pits two clubs without a championship— the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers—against each other. Both entered the Fall Classic as league leaders, with the Rays posting 98 wins and the Brewers a franchise‑record 103. Game 1 kicks off at 8 p.m. at American Family Field, featuring lineups that include Yandy Diaz, Christian Yelich, William Contreras and a debut by flame‑throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski. The series airs on FOX and streams on ESPN Radio, SiriusXM and iHeartRadio.
The Pinstripe Alley preview breaks down the Brewers' pitching strengths ahead of the 2026 World Series. Milwaukee’s staff tops MLB in strikeout rate (27.4%) and K‑BB% (19.6%), ranking in the top five for ERA (3.61), FIP (3.73) and fWAR (15.6). Star rookie Jacob Misiorowski, the presumptive NL Cy Young, posted a 1.80 ERA, 252 Ks and a record‑setting 106 mph fastball, but his postseason whiff rate has dropped to 16.1% and he failed to go beyond five innings in the NLCS. Backup starter Logan Henderson (2.33 ERA) and potential Game 3 ace Robert Gasser are also discussed, while the bullpen shines with a 1.33 ERA and standout relievers Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill.
After a roller coaster season, the San Diego Padres now face another busy offseason with plenty of decisions to make. Among those decisions is a potential logjam at catcher. The Golden Boy has arrived and looks the part, Luis Campusano is coming off a solid campaign, and Freddy Fermin has finished as a Gold Glove […]
The post Ethan Salas’ Emergence Could Lead the Padres to a Trade appeared first on Just Baseball .
With the 2026 postseason over and a potential lockout looming on Dec. 2, the San Diego Padres are eyeing an aggressive start to the abbreviated free‑agent market. Analysts suggest re‑signing first baseman Ty France and then packaging catcher Jake Cronenworth—possibly with Freddie Fermin or Luis Campusano—for a starter or bench depth. The Padres’ biggest need is starting pitching, while their outfield and bench depth could be bolstered by a trade. General manager A.J. Preller will head to the Las Vegas Winter Meetings on Nov. 9 to set financial targets, and a swift November flurry could solidify the roster before any work stoppage disrupts the shortened offseason.
Gaslamp Ball grades San Diego shortstop Xander Bogaerts in its “Veteran Shortstop” piece. After signing an 11-year, $280 million deal in 2023, Bogaerts has been a reliable everyday, playing 151 games this season, but his production has slipped to a .231/.332/.344 line and a C+ overall grade. He posted 13 homers, improved to .315 in September, and hit .286/.348/.476 with a homer in the NLDS, though his defense dipped slightly. The article questions whether his bat can rebound as the Padres head toward free agency.
The Padres are poised to extend a $23.15 million qualifying offer to left‑handed reliever Adrian Morejon, a rare move for a setup pitcher but justified by his dominant 2025 season (2.83 ERA, 107 Ks, only four homers allowed over 86 innings). Morejon, 27, logged over 70 appearances in three years and is the top left‑handed reliever in this free‑agent class, making him a high‑value target. Accepting the offer would give him a hefty raise from $3.9 million, while declining could net San Diego a compensatory draft pick. With no internal left‑handed bullpen replacement, the Padres view retaining Morejon as an offseason priority, though his loyalty to San Diego may influence his decision.
Baseball sources weigh in on eight potential landing spots and the prospect packages that could tempt San Diego to deal its star closer.
Gaslamp Ball grades San Diego’s 40-man roster ahead of the World Series, focusing on right‑hander Jhony Brito. The former “afterthought” from the Juan Soto trade shines in the minors with a 2.97 ERA over 69.2 innings, but he logs only nine major‑league innings in 2026, posting a 3.00 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while surrendering two homers. Graded C‑, Brito’s limited big‑league usage stems from a deep bullpen and his 2025 elbow surgery. The piece notes he could compete for a rotation spot in 2027 if he builds on his minor‑league resurgence.
The Padres acquired outfielder Ramón Laureano in a 2025 trade, exercised his 2026 option for $6.5 million, then placed him on the IL after a worsening hip labrum injury requiring surgery. Before the injury he posted a power surge with 24 homers and 76 RBI, but in 53 games this season he slumped to .203/.660 OPS. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller says Laureano’s rehab is on track and his text updates suggest he could be ready for a playoff run. With free‑agency churn and a potential labor lock, San Diego may offer a low‑risk, $1‑3 million “prove‑it” deal for 2027, giving him a spring‑training invite and a chance to win the left‑field spot over Samad Taylor, Dustin Harris or Jase Bowen.
The Dodgers enter the 2027 offseason with a 2026 lineup largely locked in, but eight of the nine regular position players will be in their thirties, sparking concerns about aging depth. Injuries to Will Smith, Tommy Edman and Shohei Ohtani limited the starters to just three games together this season. Rookie outfielder Josue De Paula, who saw brief DH action after Ohtani’s IL stint, is seen as a potential left‑field solution, yet he must improve defensively and earn a roster spot. With Teoscar Hernández entering the final year of his $21 million contract, a trade may free space for De Paula, while the Dodgers weigh utility moves, possible trades for a younger second baseman, and trimming their four‑catcher depth. The article debates the roster tweaks needed to rejuvenate the position‑player group.
The 2026 World Series pits two franchise first‑timers against each other—the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays—each chasing their inaugural championship. After ousting the Padres and Dodgers, the Brewers now face the Rays, who also have never won a title. The article traces both clubs' parallel histories since the 1998 league realignment that moved the Brewers to the NL, highlighting early successes in 2008, subsequent rebuilding periods, and their recent postseason resurgence. The matchup promises historic stakes as one team will finally break its championship drought.
Two months into ownership, San Diego Padres co‑owners Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano face a turbulent offseason. With the 2026 World Series wrapping up Oct. 23‑31, the league’s CBA deadline looms on Dec. 1, threatening a lockout that could derail free‑agency moves. The new owners have pledged “All IN” to a championship, but fans demand action now—especially to retain first baseman Ty France before the Nov. 20 non‑tender deadline and to signal intent with a pitcher trade or signing. Their early public engagement is promising, yet the coming weeks will test whether they can translate enthusiasm into roster moves before a possible work stoppage.
The New York Yankees are going to try to trade Luis Gil this offseason, and a match with the San Diego Padres could give them the most bang for their buck.
The Padres finish a 91-71 season with a top NL Wild Card spot, but their payroll is locked into massive deals for Manny Machado ($280 M), Fernando Tatis Jr. ($266 M) and Xander Bogaerts ($175 M). With key rotation arms—Walker Buehler, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize, Griffin Canning and Lucas Giolito—heading to free agency, San Diego faces a stark rotation gap. Options on Nick Pivetta, Michael King and others add uncertainty, while Musgrove returns from Tommy‑John surgery and may not start. Front office A.J. Preller must balance a $1.027 B future commitment against the need to add several quality starters before the 2027 postseason push.