Fansided

3 Los Angeles Dodgers free agents who could play for the San Diego Padres in 2024

Free agency doesn't have to be a one-sided affair. Could the Padres steal from the Dodgers this winter?

By Seth Carlson |
Oct 9, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly (17) throws
Oct 9, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joe Kelly (17) throws / Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports
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Just because the San Diego Padres may have to cut payroll heading into 2024 doesn't mean they won't be players in free agency.

In fact, there are more than a handful of affordable options available to the Friars this winter as they seek necessary reinforcements. And where better to look for said reinforcements than Los Angeles, where the division rival Dodgers have some useful players that are likely on the outs.

Here are three Los Angeles Dodgers free agents the San Diego Padres could poach this offseason.

1) The San Diego Padres could sign relief pitcher Joe Kelly

Perhaps not as universally famous as the Crying Jordan face, baseball fans won't soon forget Joe Kelly's pouty expression aimed at the Astros as he walked off the mound in Houston back in 2020.

That's the kind of swagger a team like the Padres, which already fancies itself as "Slam Diego," could use next season.

Kelly, 35, is on the older side, but was still productive in relief this past season. Over 39.1 innings pitched, he whiffed 60 batters while posting a 4.12 ERA. Don't focus on the latter too much, though, because his FIP was 2.72, suggesting some bad luck on his part. A mid-season trade from the White Sox to the Dodgers improved Kelly's performance, and positive regression is likely due in 2024. These factors should attract GM A.J. Preller's attention.

Furthermore, the 35-year-old reliever should come at a reasonable price given his age. A one or two-year deal may suffice, while giving the San Diego Padres some solid back-end relief to fill the void soon to be left behind by Josh Hader.

2) The San Diego Padres could sign J.D. Martinez as their designated hitter

Just when everyone thought J.D. Martinez was on his last legs with the Boston Red Sox in 2022, the Dodgers swooped in and bought low on the right-handed slugger for 2023. And that investment paid dividends (as usual).

After cracking 16 home runs in 2022, Martinez doubled that output with 33 long balls in 2023. He also raised his OPS over 100 points from .790 to .893. It's safe to say that's the kind of production the San Diego Padres wished they were getting from their designated hitters (DH) this season.

At 36, Martinez is probably past the point in his career where he'd command a long-term contract. That would bode well for the Friars, who similarly aren't in the best position to be offering such commitments.

It almost feels like this pairing makes too much sense, given Martinez' circumstances and the Padres' desperate need for consistency at the DH position. Nonetheless, A.J. Preller should work to make this slam dunk happen.

3. The San Diego Padres could sign Lance Lynn for their starting rotation

Lance Lynn didn't have a great 2023 season, to say the least. His 5.73 ERA in 32 combined outings between the Chicago White Sox and L.A. Dodgers was the second-worst in MLB among qualified starters.

Though Lynn improved marginally upon his arrival in Los Angeles (4.36 ERA in 11 starts, roughly league average), his results still left much to be desired. Believe it or not, his 6.16 FIP with the Dodgers suggested he actually got lucky while he was there. Not ideal at all.

So why would the San Diego Padres be interested in Lynn? For starters, he would be a cheap alternative for a rotation that's expected to lose major contributors including Blake Snell, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. Depth is critical over the course of a 162-game season, and Lynn would be that, if nothing else.

Secondly, Lynn's career ERA is 3.74. That means he was pitching way worse in 2023 than his typical level of production indicates. Despite the high FIP and WHIP, he still managed to strike out over 10 batters per nine innings with the White Sox before being traded. And in 2022, he posted a 3.99 ERA over a full season in Chicago.

He isn't too far removed from success, and the Friars might be smart to take a flier on Lynn, who knows he needs a bounce-back season.

Plus, who doesn't like sticking it to the Dodgers? They couldn't fix him, as they do with so many other players who pass through. Maybe this time, the Padres have the secret to unlocking Lynn's potential.

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