Ranking 3 first basemen the Padres should prioritize in free agency

1. Jose Abreu

Per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Padres have made Abreu “a top priority” this offseason, and it’s easy to see why. Another respected clubhouse leader, Abreu remains one of baseball’s most vaunted sluggers in his mid 30s.

In 2022, Abreu hit .304/.378/.446 with 15 homers, 75 RBI and 40 doubles. It marked his fourth consecutive season with an OPS north of .800. It’s unclear how much longer the soon-to-be 36-year-old will be a productive first basemen, but San Diego likely wouldn’t offer him more than a two- or three-year deal.

It’s this simple: Abreu is one of the top free agents available at any position. Over the last three seasons, the three-time All-Star boasts a .289/.365/.489 slash line with 64 homers, 252 RBI and ranks 14th in on-base percentage and 26th in slugging among 118 qualified players, per MLB Trade Rumors.

The idea of slotting Abreu in the middle of the lineup next to Manny Machado, who finished second in NL MVP voting, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto and the perennially underrated Jake Cronenworth would give the Padres four sluggers capable of mashing 20-30 home runs and driving in more than 80 runs.

Padres News: Jose Abreu chase, Kodai Senga rumors, Jorge Alfaro’s future

The San Diego Padres are connected to many of the top free agents, while Jose Abreu and Kodai Senga have emerged as priorities for GM AJ Preller.