Padres activate Casey Mize and Gage Workman at veteran pitcher’s expense

Obviously the Padres weren’t going to make Casey Mize wait around here. They added Mize and Gage Workman to the 26-man roster. Then optioned left-hander JP Sears and catcher Rodolfo Durán to Triple-A El Paso in the corresponding moves.

Sears is a noteworthy casualty. He actually gave the Padres respectable work during his latest stint with the team, posting a 4.68 ERA across 32 2/3 innings. He worked pretty well with Craig Stammen protecting him in a piggyback role. But it wasn’t enough to protect his roster spot once Mize walked through the door.

Honestly, Mize is a straight upgrade. It’s the only way to look at it. He arrives with a 2.70 ERA through 16 starts and some of the best underlying numbers of his career. His improved ability to miss barrels and limit hard contact suggests this season has been more than a two-month streak. Before the trade, his 2.82 xERA ranked fifth among qualified MLB pitchers. That is frontline material, something the Padres have been looking for. 

Sears could give San Diego a solid two to three innings, but that was about it. Mize gives the club a chance to dominate a game. Competent loses its chair when that kind of upside is added to the roster. 

Gage Workman gives the Padres another intriguing bench option

Workman’s promotion is quieter, but it shouldn’t be ignored. He’s an infielder who hits from the left side of the plate, and slashed .305/.366/.502, with 11 home runs, 51 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in the minors this season. His brief major-league showing with Detroit was far less convincing. He slashed .158/.158/.395 with two homers and 5 RBI in 38 at-bats. But the Padres clearly see enough to give him an immediate look.

Durán became the next logical guy to go. With Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano already handling the catching duties, carrying a third catcher offered less value than adding a versatile position player.

Workman just needs to give Stammen some options. A left-handed swing off the bench, another glove for the infield and legitimate speed can be useful late in close games, and the Padres have played enough of those to understand the value.

The Padres are choosing their best rotation options, and Sears was squeezed out. It was immediate and entirely justified. That is how contenders have to operate at this point in the season. 

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