Padres catching options could come down to a San Diego reunion

If the 2025 Padres have one glaring issue that needs to be addressed, it's the situation behind the plate. After two straight years of playing catchers on one-year deals, the Padres are left with a catcher group that can only be described as subpar. Now, as free agency trudges on and San Diego's options for possible new backstop's dwindle, many are wondering who will be doing the catching on Opening Day.

With last season's addition of Kyle Higashioka joining the Texas Rangers on a 2-year, $12.5 million deal, San Diego's catcher group has been reduced down to Luis Campusano and Brett Sullivan, two players that have struggled greatly in their time in San Diego. Obviously looking to make some improvements, options on the free agent and trade market may force San Diego to look towards former Padres players in their search.

Elias Diaz and Yasmani Grandal both viable options for Padres

In his five seasons with the Padres, Luis Campusano has been downright average. Batting .227 in 91 games during the 2024 season, Campusano was sent down to Triple-A El Paso late into the season following the addition of Elias Diaz. Under team control until the 2028 season, San Diego may be looking to trade their former top three prospect if options on the free agency market allow it.

Brett Sullivan, the other catcher on the Padres roster with major league experience, has been downright bad in his time with San Diego, picking up just three hits in his 16 plate appearances in 2024. Taking a backseat to Campusano, Diaz, and Higashioka, Sullvian saw most of his playing time come at the Triple-A level, where he was much more effective batting .263 with 17 homers in 101 games.

Late into the 2024 season, the Padres made one of their last notable additions of the year, adding former All-Star Game MVP Elias Diaz after he was released by the Colorado Rockies. He would only play in 12 games for the Padres, serving as the backup to Higashioka, and would not be re-signed at the end of the season. Now, with the Padres searching for answers, Diaz may be a cheap veteran presence that could work as a backup to whoever serves as the starter.

Turning the clock back even further, San Diego may be looking for a reunion with 2012 breakout catcher Yasmani Grandal, who is a free agent after spending last year in Pittsburgh. Grandal routinely hovers around the .230 batting mark, hitting .228 in 72 games with the Pirates last year. The Padres however would not be banking on offensive prowess from the 36-year-old, but his high caliber pitch framing ability. In 2024, Grandal ranked seventh on FanGraphs framing leaderboard, doing so with 150 less innings pitched than the six ahead of him.

Both late into their careers, Grandal and Diaz may not be the marquee signing Padres fans are looking for, but a calming veteran presence behind the dish is a positive any big league pitcher looks for. Any addition San Diego makes is sure to improve on the current catcher situation at hand.