Padres' perfect free agency target expected to have crowded market

The Friar faithful have been encouraged of late with the news of Roki Sasaki coming to MLB in 2025. While many industry sources believe that the 23-year-old Japanese star will sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Diego Padres are increasingly becoming more and more of a potential landing spot for the right-hander.

But while signing Sasaki remains a possibility, he still comes as a bit of a risk never pitching in the US before (despite a good showing in the World Baseball Classic). With Joe Musgrove sidelined for the upcoming season, the Padres will need at least one, if not two extra arms to pair with Yu Darvish, Michael King, and Dylan Cease.

Nathan Eovaldi could, and should, be one of the Padres' top targets this offseason. While some MLB insiders have linked the Friars to the likes of Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell, a pitcher like Eovaldi fits much better into San Diego's payroll. But the Padres won't be Eovaldi's only suitor this winter.

Nathan Eovaldi could be the Padres' perfect free agency target

Eovaldi turned down his $20 million player option with the Texas Rangers this offseason. That's a somewhat peculiar move considering that the right-hander didn't have his best season in 2024, but it also illustrates how lucrative the free agent market could be this winter. Eovaldi was 12-8 with a 3.80 ERA in 29 starts for the Rangers last season.

The veteran has eclipsed 100 innings pitched in each of the last four seasons, which speaks to his newfound durability. In those 106 starts, Eovaldi owns a 3.76 ERA and 114 ERA+. Those numbers are eerily similar to the production the Padres have received from Musgrove the past four seasons, suggesting Eovaldi could be the perfect remedy for San Diego's vacancy in the rotation.

But the Friars will have to enter a bidding war for Eovaldi's services. The 34-year-old is said to have multiple suitors, including the Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. WEEI's Rob Bradford is reporting that at least a dozen teams have shown interest in Eovaldi, and the Friar faithful are hopeful that the Padres are among them.

MLB Trade Rumors is predicting a two-year, $44 million pact for Eovaldi this offseason, which should fall into the Padres' price range. But with so many teams reportedly kicking the tires on a potential deal with Eovaldi, that figure might go up quite a bit.

More San Diego Padres News and Rumors