Are the Padres actually set at catcher this offseason?

After having one of the least productive catching duos in the MLB in 2025, the Padres traded for Freddy Fermin from the Royals at the trade deadline to stabilize their backstop issues. Fermin did help, but there are still questions lingering as to whether or not the Padres have enough catching depth.

Right now, San Diego has just two catchers on the active roster. Fermin is the starter, and Luis Campusano is listed on the depth chart as the backup. Campusano, of course, has a complicated relationship with the Padres. Once, he was hailed as the teams catcher of the future, but now, he's little more than an afterthought. Unfortunately, it feels like it would take a miracle for the Padres to get any production out of Campusano next year.

Padres’ catcher situation raises bigger offseason question than they think

San Diego also has their top prospect, Ethan Salas, who could reach the majors as early as next year. But does the team really want to put their faith in a teenager, especially after how Campusano turned out?

The truth is, the Padres definitely need another catcher in 2026 to stabilize their backstop rotation. Fermin could be the starter, though he has more experience as the backup for Kansas City. If San Diego wanted to acquire a true starting catcher, nobody could be opposed to that kind of move. If the team wants to save money for other positions and keep Fermin as the starter, that would not necissarily be a bad idea either. But they still should acquire a better backup catcher than Campusano, who probably would lose the Padres more games than he'll win them.

The catching market is pretty thin this winter. JT Realmuto headlines the group, and he's probably the only free agent catcher that a team would be truly comfortable starting 100 games in a season. Other notable names include former top prospects Danny Jansen and James McCann, former Yankees slugger Gary Sanchez, and former postseason hero Mitch Garver. None of those guys, however, are starting 80 games in a season for a playoff team, barring unforeseen circumstances.

The best move for the Padres might be to pair Fermin with an experienced backup who has some pop in his bat. A reunion with Sanchez could make sense, or a lottery ticket on Garver, who did hit well against lefties in Seattle while failing to replicate his previous success in Texas.

Either way, the Padres are going to need someone new to join Fermin at the catcher position by the time spring rolls around, or else the Padres will have no choice but to give yet another chance to Campusano.