Padres’ 2027 rotation plan needs to go beyond counting on Joe Musgrove

Joe Musgrove should get to spend spring training proving how much he can give the Padres. He shouldn’t arrive with an entire offseason’s worth of unfinished business waiting for him. It’s tough to draw the line when it comes to Musgrove. But the Padres need to proceed with caution when it comes to building their starting rotation for the 2027 season.

We can be excited about Musgrove pitching again and still expect A.J. Preller to find enough starters to keep that comeback from becoming an assignment to rescue the club.

Three innings this postseason gave us a reason to smile and be excited. Building next season around them is definitely a stretch.

Musgrove missed the 2025 and 2026 regular seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery before returning for three postseason innings. Preller has already acknowledged the difficulty of expecting a full starting workload next year. The front office just needs to make sure they carry that understanding into its transactions. Musgrove gives the Padres a compelling possibility. However, his availability across six months remains something they have to build around carefully.

Padres need dependable innings before Joe Musgrove’s role takes shape

The rotation already has plenty of questions. They have several potential departures. We should fully expect Michael King to exercise his opt-out and we’re awaiting the club-option decision on Nick Pivetta. Its remaining on-paper group includes Musgrove, Randy Vásquez, JP Sears and Jhony Brito.

That should put starting pitching at the top of Preller’s list. Multiple additions belong in the plan, even if Musgrove reports to camp feeling terrific. The Padres could feel tempted to spend money elsewhere if Musgrove were to toss a few encouraging outings.

Preller should be sure to add credible starting options to absorb any complications and allow Musgrove’s progression to determine his workload. The standings shouldn’t have to dictate it.

If he earns a rotation job and handles more innings as the season develops, that’s a win. Suddenly the Padres could have an extra starter who could protect a tired arm or give the club choices at the trade deadline.

But if Musgrove needs more time to recover or has a slower buildup, they need to be ready to place him in a different role. The Padres must be able to make that call without wondering who will fill his spot in the rotation. Otherwise, their roster construction puts pressure on a recovery timetable they cannot control.

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