3 bold predictions for the San Diego Padres at 2023 winter meetings

It was a disappointing 2023 season for the San Diego Padres. Entering the season with high hopes, they struggled all season and never found the consistency needed to get back into the National League Wild Card race. 

If there is one thing that we know will be true when they gather for spring training in Arizona in February, it’s that the roster is going to look different. Gone will be some key contributors over the last couple of seasons, while there will be some new additions by GM A.J. Preller.

The winter meetings are a very busy week for a lot of GMs and Preller should be one of the more active ones in building a roster for 2024.

Here are three bold predictions for the San Diego Padres at the 2023 MLB winter meetings in Nashville

San Diego Padres sign Jordan Montgomery

Blake Snell is likely gone and there are questions surrounding what the rotation will look like. An addition or two is needed and Jordan Montgomery would fit in perfectly for next season.

The left-hander was traded to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline from the St. Louis Cardinals and he pitched well for manager Bruce Bochy. In 11 regular season starts, he went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 67.2 innings pitched. In the Rangers’ run to the World Series championship, he was 3-1 in six starts (eight appearances) with an ERA of 2.90.

He has proven when he’s on a contending roster, he can be effective like he was with the New York Yankees. Montgomery is not going to overpower hitters, but he’s crafty and mixes his pitches well. He would be a good middle-of-the-rotation pitcher for the Friars.