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2 San Diego Padres players who should not be back in 2024 and 1 who should

There are two players that the San Diego Padres can't bring back for the 2024 season and one that they should at all costs.

By Scott Roche |
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Baltimore Orioles v San Diego Padres / Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/GettyImages
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Regardless of how the 2023 season ends up playing out, there are going to be some changes ahead for the San Diego Padres before they gather for spring training next February ahead of the 2024 season.

What those changes end up being remain to be seen. Changes could come in the front office, with manager Bob Melvin, some of the coaching staff, and/or even the roster. General manager A.J. Preller has his core of Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Fernando Tatis locked up, but there are questions about how he will go about adding around those pieces in free agency.

Like every other team, the Padres have a handful of free agents this winter and if they end up missing the 2023 postseason, which looks like a real possibility, building around the core will be key. There are some free agents that San Diego would ideally like to keep and some they should let walk.

Two San Diego Padres players who should not be back in 2024 and one who should.

It's obvious that two players that fans and the team would love to see return are pitchers Blake Snell and Josh Hader, two rumored trade deadline pieces they could have moved that they didn't. The problem looking ahead to next season is that both pitchers are going to get a pretty big bump in salary and it remains to be seen if Preller is willing to give them term and money. There are two players they should move one from and one they should re-sign for 2024.

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Texas Rangers v San Diego Padres / Orlando Ramirez/GettyImages

San Diego Padres should not bring back Matt Carpenter in 2024

At the time of signing Matt Carpenter last winter, it was somewhat of a no-brainer. A veteran who was coming off a good bounce-back season with the New York Yankees and a veteran presence in a clubhouse that was ready to win now.

It never has really worked out the way Preller and Carpenter have hoped it would.

Giving a two-year, $12 million contract with a player option for 2024. Carpenter has struggled mightily this season and recently went through a stretch where he did not get an at-bat from July 24 through August 14. In his only at-bat during that stretch, he struck out against Mike Baumann of the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning of a 10-3 Padres win.

Hoping to split DH at-bats with Nelson Cruz, who was DFA'd in July, Carpenter has not been able to find consistency in the lineup for Melvin. Never mind defensively, offensively it has been a struggle for the former St. Louis Cardinals icon. He's not the same player he was and is clearly at the end of his career and San Diego needs to cut ties with him before 2024 and move on.

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San Diego Padres v Arizona Diamondbacks / Rebecca Sasnett/GettyImages

San Diego Padres should not bring Rich Hill back in 2024

Preller made a trade at the deadline with the Pittsburgh Pirates acquiring Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi which added depth to the rotation and at first base. Choi also is a left-handed bat that can come off the bench, something they lacked with Carpenter.

Hill is 43 years old and was a surprising part of the deal, but after this season ends, it's time for Preller and the Friars to cut ties with the veteran left-hander. Last season he pitched well for the Boston Red Sox, but this season he struggled with the Pittsburgh Pirates and has with the Padres.

He's 0-3 with San Diego with a bloated 9.53 ERA in just 11.1 innings pitched. He is in his 19th season and more than likely would like to try and continue his career in 2024 as he is a crafty southpaw, but it just can't be in Southern California.

He is depth and the fact that Melvin has to roll him out there says as much about the injuries that rotation is dealing with than anything else. At this point in his career, he is nothing more than an innings eater and not a starter. Preller would be better off going after Jordan Montgomery or someone else in free agency.

Baltimore Orioles v San Diego Padres
Baltimore Orioles v San Diego Padres / Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/GettyImages

San Diego Padres should bring Gary Sanchez back in 2024

The best move during the season that Preller has made this season was at the end of May when he signed Gary Sanchez. The former backstop of the Yankees struggled to fit in with the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets this season but found a home with the Padres.

Sanchez is slashing .219/.289./505 with 16 home runs and 40 RBI, but it has been his work behind the plate that has been important. He has formed a strong connection with Snell and the case could be made that he is the reason for the left-hander's success. He took the catching duties from Aaron Nola, who struggled and is now in the minors.

The free agent catching market this offseason is less than stellar, so the best choice for 2024 might very well be Sanchez. He has proven he still has plenty to offer behind the plate and at the plate offensively. He's not going to require a huge deal to return to a team that is expected to be a contender again in 2024.

There are always going to be additions and subtractions every offseason, but this is going to be a very big offseason for Preller and the Padres. Building the roster is going to be key to allow them to have a better 2024 and subtracting Carpenter and Hill and keeping Sanchez would be a good start.

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