Padres insider hints re-signing breakout star may be top priority at Winter Meetings

Few bargains from 2024 can compete with the one that the San Diego Padres got when they successfully signed Jurickson Profar to a one year deal before the season. While few thought much of the deal at the time, Profar just went out and put together a career-year with a .280/.380/.459 line and 24 homers.

Unfortunately, signing Profar to just a one-year deal and watching him put up the type of numbers that he did has created a bit of a problem for San Diego. Profar is now a free agent with a very bizarre track record to consider when thinking about a potential contract offer. San Diego clearly would like to have him back and Profar has already said he would like to return.

With the MLB Winter Meetings quickly approaching and Profar still a free agent, Padres insider AJ Cassavell just provided a hint that re-signing Profar may be a top priority for the team.

Could the Padres make a push to re-sign Jurickson Profar at the Winter Meetings?

The Padres beat writer certainly makes a strong argument here. Profar wants to be a Padre, he just had the best season of his career in San Diego, and his success in other organizations has been decidedly lacking. The Padres certainly have other roster needs especially in the wake of Joe Musgrove's injury, but Profar's potential departure creates a massive hole in their outfield as things stand.

How much the Padres can realistically offer Profar is a fair question. While some of the conversation about San Diego needing to rein in their spending feels overblown, the Padres don't have infinite money to spend. If Profar is looking for a high-AAV deal in the neighborhood of three or more years, that's going to be a tough sell, especially given how much of an outlier his 2024 on-base percentage (.380) compares to the rest of his career (.322).

Despite the challenges, it just makes too much sense for Profar to return to San Diego. The Padres need a bat-first outfielder and Profar both loves playing in San Diego while also fitting the vibe of the team perfectly. At this point, it does feel like him leaving town would be a bit of an upset and definitely a missed opportunity if his price-point isn't too crazy.

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