2 Padres players it’s fair to worry about heading into 2026 season

We are a month and a half away from spring training, which will be the time for the Padres to assess what they have on their roster. While the team has a ton of options to fill in holes, it goes without saying that there may be players who regress or may have concerns heading into opening day.

There are a pair of Padres in particular that we have in mind that may see more regression than what the front office would like.

2 Padres players it’s fair to worry about heading into 2026 season

Jeremiah Estrada

Estrada was solid in 2025; don’t get that twisted. The guy posted a 3.44 ERA over 73.1 innings pitched. But to say he was the odd one out in a bullpen that contained Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, Mason Miller, and Robert Suarez is not far-fetched at all.

Not only did he have the worst ERA of the five, but he also tended to lose command the most. If you want to get more niche, Estrada is terrible against the Los Angeles Dodgers to a degree you couldn’t imagine unless you pulled up the numbers. He has an 11.81 ERA and a 0–3 record over his career. In 2025, he posted an 18.47 ERA in 6.1 innings.

The Padres can’t afford that against their division rivals in 2026, and it is safe to be concerned about Estrada heading into spring training.

Xander Bogaerts

In his first three years with the Padres since signing that 11-year, $280 million deal with them in 2022, Xander Bogaerts has failed to live up to those expectations that came along with the lucrative contract. He has seen his batting average decrease by 22 points since 2023 (.285 down to .263), as well as his on-base percentage taking a hit since his first year.

While Bogaerts remains one of the better fielders on the team, the lack of offensive firepower may prove to be a problem in 2026, considering the Padres have already lost Ryan O’Hearn and likely Luis Arráez as well.

This, coupled with the fact that the team may be fielding offers on Jake Cronenworth, may mean that Bogaerts may need to step it up a notch this season. If he fails to do so, it may derail the Padres' season.