5 former Padres still on the market fans would love to see back as spring training approaches

As spring training nears for the 2025 season, the Padres still have some needs to fulfill on their roster before the front office staff can say they have fielded a winning ball club.

Although San Diego is a finalist to hopefully sign Roki Sasaki, he is still meeting with other teams and we don't know where he will eventually wind up. It makes sense for San Diego to have their focus on getting Sasaki, but they still need to sign some free agent position players ahead of the new season. The Padres need help at catcher, first base, and they especially have to ink a deal with one more outfielder. There are still solid options out there, but maybe the Padres could bring back a former Friar to bolster a World Series hopeful this season.

5 former Padres still on the market fans would love to see back as spring training approaches

Ty France

France, 30, was drafted by the Padres, but only lasted 89 games in a San Diego uniform before playing for the Mariners and the Reds. He is a lifetime .263 hitter with a bWAR of 3.0 or higher in two seasons.

France has been on a bit of a skid these past two years, but the Padres could get him for cheap as a platoon option at first base when San Diego is facing left-handed pitching. France is has a .270 career average against southpaws, and Jake Cronenworth has always struggled against them - so this fit could potentially work.

Yasmani Grandal

Grandal, 36, would be the perfect mentor for Luis Campusano. His guidance and leadership behind the plate would ideally develop Campusano into a solid MLB catcher. The two-time All-Star spent the first three seasons of his career in San Diego, so ending it here can be poetic justice for a guy looking to take a younger catcher under his wing.

Manuel Margot

The 30-year-old outfielder showed that he still had some juice left in the tank before landing on the injured list with a right groin strain. He had a very strong August with the Twins, batting .281 with four extra-base hits.

Margot rarely strikes out and still has impressive arm value in the outfield and baserunning run value after nine big league seasons.

Tommy Pham

The 2024 campaign was a bit of a whirlwind for Pham, who will be 37 years old by Opening Day. He played for three different teams, but he still racked up 32 extra-base hits and finished in the 97th percentile in chase rate despite the constant packing and moving. He's always comfortable and ready to produce, regardless of his situation.

San Diego also needs some reliable bats in the playoffs, and Pham was a .455 hitter with the Royals in the ALDS against the Yankees, going 5-for-12 with two runs and two RBIs. Lifetime, Pham is a .315 hitter in the postseason across 37 games.

Anthony Rizzo

Rizzo, 35, might have one more season left under his belt. He made his MLB debut with the Padres back in 2011 before earning three All-Star nods, four Gold Gloves, a Platinum Glove, a World Series ring, and a Silver Slugger.

One of the better defensive first basemen of his time, Padres fans would love to see Rizzo ride off into the sunset with the team he started out with, even if he only played in 49 games with them.