Padres seen as likely candidate to sign World Series winning starter

As rumors of a Padres starting rotation shakeup seem to gain more momentum every day, the team has been looking elsewhere in the league in hopes of filling those potential gaps. San Diego has had an uncharacteristically slow offseason, letting a number of All-Star players walk while doing little to replace their talent. Now, with pitchers and catchers reporting in just over two weeks from now, options to bolster a weakened starting rotation are few and far between.

One free agent that should stick out to the Padres front office is recent World Series winner Andrew Heaney. Entering his 12th season in the league, Heaney had a strong 2023 with the World Series winning Rangers, but struggled along with the rest of the team in 2024. Now, still available after his 2-year, $25 million contract expired with no re-signing efforts, Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller predicts the Padres could be in the running to sign the starter.

Heaney could be a decent option, but his price tag is worrying

Miller has listed both the Padres and Blue Jays as the two most likely teams to sign Heaney, with both teams needing at least one more starter before the season begins. For the Padres, a left-handed middle of the rotation arm like Heaney could slot in nicely behind the likes of Dylan Cease, Michael King, or Yu Darvish.

After a down 2024, Heaney will surely be looking to return to the numbers he saw with the Dodgers in 2022, where he put up career best's in ERA, strikeouts per nine at a staggering 13.6, and WHIP. Although he only started 14 games that season, his 59 starts over the past two seasons show a constant availability that will be much needed in a thin Padres rotation.

If Heaney does land in San Diego, he could see himself quickly pushed towards the top of the rotation, as trade rumors surrounding Cease are still ongoing, and King's status on the trade market has recently been changed to wide open. Looking to both shed payroll and bolster a weakened squad, a Cease or King trade could see the Padres save a good amount of money and receive a decent hall of players in return, but an even larger gap would be left in the rotation.

Heaney would theoretically be the replacement option, but coming off a $25 million deal over two years, his price may be too much for the financially unstable Padres. Miller predicts a deal anywhere between $10 and $15 million per year for Heaney, something that AJ Preller may see as an overpay for a middle of the rotation starter.