6 Padres players who almost certainly won't be back for the 2025 season

After a stellar turnaround in 2024 that saw the Friar faithful completely reinvigorated after last year's disappointment, the San Diego Padres' 2024 season has come to an end.

There is just so much positivity to take away from the Padres' season, including, but not limited to, Fernando Tatis Jr.'s postseason heroics, the emergence of Jackson Merrill, and all of the good work the Padres' front office did throughout the season. It is also always a good time when the Padres can find a way to make Los Angeles Dodgers' fans lose their minds.

With the offseason upon us, it is important to start thinking about what the 2025 Padres could look like. With A.J. Preller at the helm, fans can be sure that San Diego is going to make some additions and attempt to press the Padres' advantage.

Unfortunately, that also means that some existing Padres players will have to be shuffled off the roster one way or another before the start of next season.

6 Padres players who almost certainly won't be back for the 2025 season

There are no certainties here. In fact, it is incredibly likely that some players who aren't listed won't return to the Padres next season either. Perhaps even a couple of unexpected names will return in 2025.

Yes, the Padres do have more pending free agents than this. You will be able to infer the guesses regarding the fates of Elias Diaz and Jurickson Profar based on their lack of inclusion here. With the caveats out of the way, here are the Padres players that are very likely to not be back next season.

Martín Pérez, Padres LHP

Martín Pérez has been exactly what the Padres wanted when they traded for him at the deadline. Getting a 3.46 ERA across 10 starts out of a fading depth starter is more than acceptable, and it wouldn't be all that crazy to see him return to San Diego in 2025 if the need arises. However, it's a safe bet that the Padres will be in search of a fifth starter the offseason that has a bit more upside than Perez. The left-hander doesn't miss many bats and has been a borderline starter for a number of years now.

Luis Campusano, Padres C

Luis Campusano being shuffled off the roster may seem strange given that he is the one Padres catcher who actually still has some team control remaining. However, Campusano struggled so much behind the plate and as a hitter in 2024 that the Padres have clearly lost confidence in him. Expect the Padres to bring back Kyle Higashioka and maybe even Elias Diaz to hold down the fort while Ethan Salas develops.

Tanner Scott, Padres LHP

While just one of a few moves the Padres made at the trade deadline to bolster their bullpen, it is unquestionably true that Tanner Scott was the biggest name San Diego acquired. On the whole, Scott lived up to his billing as a dominant, late-inning arm who posted a 2.73 ERA in 28 appearances after the trade. But, the Padres' bullpen is extremely deep and with the extreme likelihood that another contender is going to throw big-money at Scott this offseason, San Diego probably isn't going to spend their resources in order to keep him.

Wandy Peralta, Padres LHP

Wandy Peralta's status will be one to watch. While it's true that Peralta signed a "four-year deal" last offseason, he holds player-options for three of those years. That's where things get harder. Peralta pitched well in 2024 with a 3.99 ERA in 46 appearances, although he notably dealt with an adductor strain that cost him some time. Given that his option for 2025 is for just $4.25 million, here's wagering that the lefty could probably get a bit more money in his pocket if he tested the open market. But a reunion with San Diego isn't out of the question either.

David Peralta, Padres OF

At this point in his career, it was a pleasant surprise that David Peralta provided San Diego with a .750 OPS during his 260 plate appearances in the regular season. However, the reality is that Peralta is 37 years old and at the end of his rope as a big leaguer. Expect the Padres to move into 2025 with another player who can come in as a defensive replacement and has more youth on their side. Tirso Ornelas would be an internal option there.

Ha-Seong Kim, Padres SS

Other than Jurickson Profar — who most assume will be one of the top free agents San Diego will attempt to to re-sign — the highest profile player set to hit the open market is Ha-Seong Kim. There was some thought to the idea that Kim would exercise his end of the mutual-option in his contract, especially given his shoulder injury. However, those thoughts basically went out the window when Kim decided to switch his representation to Scott Boras. It is now clear that Kim is looking for top dollar this offseason. With his recent injury and offensive limitations, the Padres are likely to evaluate other infield options to replace Kim, especially with the number of internal candidates they have.

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