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Padres should give prospect Tucker Musgrove a bullpen shot before signing another reliever

Let the kid pitch his way into the budget.
ByTremayne Person
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Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Tucker Musgrove during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Tucker Musgrove during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Before the Padres go out and buy another veteran’s chance to pitch in the middle innings, we should see how Tucker Musgrove could handle the pressure. There’s usually a familiar name available to make a bullpen feel safer in the winter. By April, that pitcher has a guaranteed contract and a place in the roster discussion with a prospect suddenly blocked. We can only hope the Padres will leave Musgrove some room to fight.

MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell highlighted Musgrove’s 68 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings during the 2026 season. He also identified walks as an issue and Musgrove as a potential contributor in 2027. That’s enough to work with. More importantly, the Padres should find out whether they can.

Strikeouts offer a reliever a way out of trouble. However, putting runners aboard in a close game will make their fans less interested in pitching to contact. 

Padres should make Tucker Musgrove’s command the deciding factor

The walks are nothing to sneeze at. Major league hitters will let an exciting arm bury itself. Falling behind gives them the luxury of waiting for a pitch they can drive, and free passes can cause an inning to spiral out of control.

Musgrove needs to show he can get ahead, bounce back when he misses and finish hitters without gassing himself out due to an inability to get enough balls over the plate. He’ll likely need more time in the minors, but they should at least give him a clear assignment. The opportunity should be real enough that pitching well can actually win him something.

Padres can keep a bullpen opportunity open without sacrificing depth

A.J. Preller should be selective. Minor league deals and spring competition can help cover the bullpen without guaranteeing every available seat to a veteran. Before committing money to another depth arm, the Padres should ask how much of an improvement they’re buying, and whether Musgrove could provide those innings.

There’s also value in learning what the organization has. They will need affordable players who can handle real assignments. And those players need a way onto the roster. Musgrove has given the Padres a reason to keep that door open. Now give him a demanding audition and let his pitching determine what happens next.

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