3 areas where the Padres need to invest this winter

The San Diego Padres had one of the best all-around rosters in Major League Baseball this past season. The Friars won 93 games and became a legitimate postseason contender. Unfortunately, San Diego fell short of their goal and the Padres were bounced from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

As the offseason trudges on, the Padres need to look within and figure out how they could improve their club. There are three specific areas of the roster where an upgrade could make a huge difference for the 2025 campaign.

A.J. Preller has some work do to as the Padres look to retool their roster this offseason

With Joe Musgrove out for the year, Padres must add at least one more starting pitcher

The Padres saw some spectacular pitching in 2024. Michael King will receive Cy Young votes, Dylan Cease fired a no-hitter, and though aging, Yu Darvish proved that he can still be dominant when he is healthy. On the other hand, Matt Waldron faltered down the stretch and Martín Pérez is a free agent. The Padres will also be without Joe Musgrove next season after the right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery. The Padres may need to add another backend starter this winter.

One pitcher who sticks out is Nick Pivetta. The 31-year-old right-hander has turned in back-to-back seasons with a 1.12 WHIP and over 10 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. Pivetta won't cost as much as other free agent starters, after the Red Sox took a $7.5 million flier on him this past season.

There are other arms who'll become available this winter and A.J. Preller will have shortage of options to consider, but Pivetta checks off every box for a Padres team that doesn't need to empty their pockets on a starting pitcher next season.

If Jurickson Profar isn't re-signed, the Padres need to add a corner outfielder

Jurickson Profar, following his one-year contract in a season that saw him start in the All-Star Game, is now a free agent. Profar said he wants to remain with the Padres, but things can (and often do) fall through the cracks. In the event that San Diego doesn't retain Profar, the Padres' front office will have to look toward the free agent market.

If the Friars are looking for a masher, Anthony Santander is the perfect guy. The Baltimore Orioles slugger will cost a pretty penny, but if San Diego wants to splurge, Santander could be a great option. He powered 44 home runs, 102 RBI, and 25 doubles in 2024, giving him 105 round-trippers over the last three seasons.

The Padres will need to find a new shortstop if Ha-Seong Kim leaves this offseason

If Ha-Seong Kim does not return to Petco Park, then a shortstop needs to become the Padres' top priority this winter. Willy Adames is the biggest name among free agent shortstops after leading the Brewers — the NL Central winners — with 32 homers and 112 RBI. Is Adames the guy?

His personality certainly fits San Diego, but if the Friars don't want to spend a ton of money, a guy like Kevin Newman could be a perfect short-term option. The former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder will likely cost less than about $3 million and just hit .278 this season while playing above-average defense.

Without any major upgrade this winter, the Padres are in great shape to churn out another successful season in 2025. But just like every other team throughout MLB, improvements can be made. Whether the Padres' ownership wants to spend a lot of money or not, there are players available in free agency or via trade who can contribute to a winning ball club. It'll be interesting to see how the front office operates over the next few months.

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