Padres may have a better use for Germán Márquez after dominant rehab start

Germán Márquez may just be forcing a complicated pitching conversation. Even if nothing comes of it. He took another strong step toward returning to San Diego’s pitching staff with four scoreless innings in his second rehab start for Triple-A El Paso. He allowed one hit, walked one, struck out two and threw 28 of his 47 pitches for strikes in the Chihuahuas’ 11-5 win over Sugar Land. He’s now covered 6 1/3 scoreless innings since beginning his rehab assignment.

Márquez has been out since early May with nerve irritation in his right forearm. But what’s more interesting is what happens next. He may be pitching his way back to the Padres, but not necessarily back into a starting role.

Padres may not need Germán Márquez to simply reclaim a rotation spot

When Márquez landed on the injured list, it was easy to view his path back to the starting rotation. Except the Padres’ season hasn’t been so obvious.

Lucas Giolito has raised the floor enough that this is no longer a straightforward situation. There’s the question of how much runway do you give him and Griffin Canning who’s also still settling in after his injury. But they’re showing San Diego signs competent innings here and there as they fight through some rust.

That means Márquez’s most realistic path back may not be as a traditional starter at all. It may be as a multi-inning weapon in the bullpen.

And honestly, that might make more sense. And if it doesn’t, maybe it makes sense for the two pitchers already mentioned.

One thing is for sure, the Padres have enough late-inning electricity. Plenty of matchup arms too. What they don’t always have is the safety net who could serve as a multi-inning bridge to the late innings.

Márquez could fit there.

He has spent his career as a starter. He knows how to turn a lineup over. He knows how to manage traffic. And he did so for years in Colorado, a place most pitchers have no interest in going.

That kind of arm still has value. We should also be honest about the obvious part. Márquez has not pitched enough yet to just be handed a rotation spot again. Six and one-third scoreless rehab innings are encouraging. But we still need to see how the stuff holds.

Márquez is not automatically the answer to San Diego’s rotation questions. And honestly, they have more questions about their offense which may matter more than whatever Márquez may be doing right now.

But he is giving the Padres something almost as valuable: another legitimate option. 

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