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Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato's availability should raise the Padres' offseason ambitions

Let ownership take a few swings this winter.
ByTremayne Person
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Mar 16, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers third baseman Teruaki Sato (8) is interviewed after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Mar 16, 2025; Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan; Hanshin Tigers third baseman Teruaki Sato (8) is interviewed after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers at Tokyo Dome. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Padres should take Teruaki Sato's arrival on the market as an invitation to get serious about adding power. They could either focus their winter on finding supporting bats for their roster, or they can pursue a hitter who could make the middle of its lineup considerably harder to get through.

MLB.com reports that Hanshin has approved his posting. That creates an opportunity the Padres should explore with real intent. A potentially significant offensive upgrade is becoming available through a financial commitment, allowing the Friars to keep their prospects available for pitching and whatever else the roster demands. This would also be a big statement by new ownership to show their commitment.

Teruaki Sato could give the Padres more room to build

Every trade carries a second price beyond the players listed in the announcement. Once a prospect is gone, he cannot help the big-league club, fill a future opening cheaply or headline the next deal. For a while it’s been a point of discussion on how the Padres should acquire another bat.

Trade for offense, and the Padres could spend the same prospect capital they might need to land a starter. Sign an impact hitter, and those options remain available. The front office gets more ways to finish the roster instead of having to squeeze several upgrades out of the same collection of young players.

Sato hit .306 with 39 homers, 106 RBIs and a .991 OPS in 2026, winning the Central League Triple Crown. Those numbers won't transfer cleanly to the majors, but they give the Padres a reason to pursue a substantial lineup upgrade.

The financial commitment would include a contract and a posting fee tied to its value. Ownership would have to authorize a meaningful investment. Preserving prospects has a price, too. We should expect the Padres to weigh that price against the cost of continually trading for their needs.

The Padres should pursue a bigger offensive payoff

Adding reliable power could change the burden on the Padres lineup. At the same time, he still requires a serious eval. The Padres would need conviction in how his bat translates and a workable plan for his defensive role. Manny Machado is still expected to hold down third base, meaning Satu will probably be needed more often in left field and DH.

But the possibility deserves more than a passing mention before attention shifts to cheaper alternatives. We know A.J. Preller can find a trade. This is an opportunity for the Padres to give him fewer problems that require one.

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