Padres’ free-agent search is massive in scope ahead of Tarik Skubal meeting

The Padres’ offseason shopping list is getting a little ridiculous. Tarik Skubal is the biggest name on it, but they are out there casting a wide net. Somehow the rest of the list has us wondering where Fernando Tatis Jr. is going to play. The good news is Tatis can probably play just about anywhere. Regardless, it’s a hell of a turn for an offseason that started with simple questions about the starting rotation.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Padres have a tentative meeting with Skubal next week in Orange County, with owners Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano expected to attend. The two-time Cy Young winner is expected to command more than $40 million a year, and at least four other clubs reportedly have meetings lined up. Meanwhile, the Padres are pursuing Seiya Suzuki, have expressed interest in Teruaki Sato and have discussed Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Of course we’d want the Padres to land Skubal. We’re also curious of what the rotation would look like behind him. A $40 million-plus ace sounds great as long the next four spots aren’t bargain plays built on upside. The lineup could also use a bat even if Skubal spends the next several years dominating hitters.

That’s where the size of this search really gets interesting. The owners could come away from the Skubal meeting willing to spend big and still see him sign somewhere else. We’ll learn plenty from what they’re willing to spend after that, too. A.J. Preller told the Union-Tribune that the club hasn’t settled on a hard payroll number and is weighing spending decisions by player. That gives the Padres room to keep several conversations going. At some point, Preller will likely need enough money to finish more than one of them.

The Padres’ search for a bat could put Fernando Tatis Jr. at second base

Suzuki may be the easiest fit to picture. Put his bat in right field (or left) and give Tatis more starts at second. Chisholm opens up a different lineup completely. He’s spent most of the past two seasons at second and has plenty of outfield experience, so Preller could plug him into the infield and keep his two-time Platinum Glove winner in right. It also sounds like they could potentially move Sato around the diamond a bit. Most scouts see him as a left-fielder. But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t spell Machado at third, or fill-in at first base over time.

We’ve already had a decent look at Tatis on the dirt. He started 50 games at second base in 2026 and posted a .974 OPS in games he played there, compared with .769 in games he played in right. Those splits as a reason to feel comfortable giving him more time at second. The reason to give him the job outright would be a bat like Suzuki’s waiting to take over in right. Then we can talk about Jake Cronenworth getting time at first and spelling Machado or Bogaerts when they need a day. 

There’s a version of this offseason where the Padres sign Skubal and still have to scramble for innings by spring training. There’s another where he signs elsewhere and Preller has the money to add multiple starters and a hitter good enough to move Tatis. We’d happily take either route if the Padres can finish the job.

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