Jazz Chisholm’s projected Padres fit would complicate Michael King reunion

Jazz Chisholm Jr. would enjoy San Diego’s weather. The Padres would enjoy his power and speed. Maybe even his personality. That would depend on who you ask. However, their accountant could have a considerably worse time.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand included San Diego among Chisholm’s potential free-agent fits, pointing to the Padres’ need for left-handed power and the possibility of moving Jake Cronenworth from second base to first. The baseball fit makes enough sense to capture our attention. Chisholm is athletic, productive and still only 29 years old entering 2027.

But when we get to the money, that changes the game. An executive quoted by Feinsand estimated that Chisholm could receive a three- or four-year contract worth roughly $20 million annually. This would lead the Padres to ask how much offense can San Diego afford before it starts sacrificing the pitching staff?

Michael King makes the Padres’ projected Jazz Chisholm fit much harder to justify

Michael King could force that conversation very soon. He’s under contract for 2027, but he can opt out after the World Series by walking away from a $28 million salary and collecting a $5 million buyout. After recording a 3.21 ERA across 32 starts and delivering another strong postseason, he would be one of the best starters available. 

King has said he wants to remain in San Diego, and the Padres should want the same thing. Their list of looming pitching decisions already extends beyond him to Adrián Morejón, Jason Adam, Walker Buehler, Robbie Ray and Casey Mize.

The Chisholm projection sounds nice, but it’s wildly uncomfortable for the Padres. Spending around $20 million per year on another infielder would consume money that could be needed to keep King or rebuild the innings behind him.

It’s not like the temptation doesn’t make sense. Chisholm still produced 3.5 fWAR during a disappointing 2026 season. He stole a career-high 41 bases, hit 19 home runs and recorded 15 outs above average at second base. The Padres slugged only .384 from the left side, ranking 23rd in MLB. Chisholm would add a spark this lineup could use.

He would also bring a 29.5 percent strikeout rate and a .218/.269/.381 slash line against left-handed pitching. The Padres cannot throw money at electricity and assume every circuit in the lineup has been repaired.

The weather concern is legit, at least according to Chisholm. During an April slump in New York, he said the cold made it difficult to feel the bat and expected his production to rise with the temperature. San Diego would remove most of that early-season misery. A chilly night at Petco Park is not the same as spending April trying to hit with frozen hands in the Bronx or Toronto.

Still, better weather doesn’t answer an even harder question: Is Chisholm enough of an upgrade to justify moving Cronenworth to first base, potentially closing the door on a Ty France reunion and committing another significant salary to the infield?

He is a very good player. He would make the Padres faster, louder and more dangerous against right-handed pitching. We would have no trouble talking ourselves into watching Chisholm share a lineup with Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado.

But A.J. Preller’s job is to look beyond that highlight reel. Chisholm would make the Padres more entertaining. Losing King would make them less equipped to win. At a projected $20 million per year, that is the bill San Diego must read before ordering another star.

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