Predicting the biggest free-agent regrets of the Padres’ offseason

The Padres didn’t make a single big free-agent signing

While their rivals up the coast signed Freddie Freeman and generally continued to spend like the luxury tax doesn’t exist, the San Diego Padres didn’t make a single big-free agent signing when the best names were still on the market.

So, how are they expected to compete with the Dodgers and Padres? They’re not, especially now that Fernando Tatis Jr. has a fractured wrist and won’t be game-ready for approximately three months.

The Dodgers’ lineup only got stronger, while the Padres lost their biggest bat for a significant portion of the season and only added Luke Voit, via trade from the New York Yankees.

Now, of course, the Padres couldn’t sign all of these free agents, but here are three they’ll probably regret not getting…

1. Freddie Freeman

If only to keep him off the Dodgers.

Half-kidding.

Freeman is a superb talent with extensive postseason experience, which would help a team that’s never won one in franchise history. He’s a Gold Glove infielder, three-time Silver Slugger, former NL MVP, and a defending World Series champion. He’s also an Orange County native, meaning the Padres had just as much of a SoCal advantage as the Dodgers.

In Freeman, the Dodgers got a career .295/.384.509, .893 OPS hitter in the regular season and a .290/.393/.523, .916 OPS hitter in the postseason.