3 options for Padres to deal with their catcher problem

The San Diego Padres are solid on offense and defense, but they still have a couple of holes that need patching up before the 2025 postseason rolls around. There is a vacancy in left field that is in dire need of a consistent bat, but also, they really need to figure something out at catcher. Martin Maldonado and Elias Diaz have not quite cut it, and it's looking like it's time to move on from them splitting time behind the dish.

Give Luis Campusano one last full-time chance

Although Kyle Higashioka is not playing all that great with the Texas Rangers right now, Padres fans are still missing him and the memorable 2024 campaign he put together. Higashioka and Luis Campusano split time with the Padres last season, and it worked well for the former.

Since Higashioka's departure, Campusano's stock within the organization has plummeted. He's played just seven games this season at the MLB level, essentially forfeiting all time plated to the veterans in Diaz and Maldonado. Maybe, just maybe, the Padres should give Campusano one last shot at a full-time catching gig?

He's batting .313 with Triple-A El Paso this season with 10 home runs and an OPS north of 1.000. If San Diego keeps him at the big-league level consistently, and he doesn't perform well, then it's justified to call it quits on him. However, he might deserve one last opportunity before calling off the dogs.

Sign a cheap and temporary option

There are plenty of catching options across the league. A guy like Ben Rortvedt, who was designated for assignment by the Tampa Bay Rays last week, went unclaimed off waivers. He was then sent outright to Triple-A Durham, still within the Rays organization. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery to resurge his career? Rortvedt wouldn't reinvent the wheel or anything, but the Padres could use a spark at catcher, and adding Rortvedt would be pretty low-risk.

Make a big splash on the trade market

If the Padres are serious about making a run in the postseason this fall, then they may want to consider going for the big fish in the catching trade market.

The Baltimore Orioles are struggling this year, somewhat surprisingly, so they may be interested in moving some players. Their catcher, Adley Rutschman, has not been the All-Star type of player he usually is, so he could be an interesting player to follow until the trade deadline.

JT Realmuto of the Philadelphia Phillies, or Yainer Diaz of the Houston Astros could be potential options, too as those teams might be in the market of improving their roster elsewhere.