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3 moves the Padres can still make before spring training

The Padres have some work to do before pitchers and catchers report.

By Drew Koch |
San Diego Padres executive A.J. Preller
San Diego Padres executive A.J. Preller / Sean M. Haffey/GettyImages
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The San Diego Padres have been rather quiet this offseason since trading Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees. While the return of Micheal King and Drew Thorpe is likely to bolster the Friars rotation, both in the short and long term, this year's roster still has some holes.

AJ Preller has proven time and time again that Padres fans should expect the unexpected. But with just a few days remaining before the Friars head to Peoria for spring training, the clock is ticking.

Still, it's not too late to make some 11th-hour free agent signings or pull off another offseason trade. What's left in the tank for Preller and the front office to follow the Wandy Peralta signing?

3 moves the Padres can still make before spring training

The Padres can sign Joey Votto to a one-year deal

The Padres need to invest in a left-handed power hitter. While Joey Votto, at 40 years old, is past his prime, the former NL MVP still has enough left in the tank to give the Friars some pop from the left side of the plate.

Without Soto and Grisham, the Padres have lost two left-handed bats from last year's lineup. Throw in the fact that Matt Carpenter re-signed with the St. Louis Cardinals, and you can see why there's a cry from the Friar faithful to bring in some lefty power.

Votto's $20 million club option was not picked up by the Cincinnati Reds earlier this offseason, and the six-time All-Star has yet to find a new team. Votto was limited last season following shoulder surgery in 2022, but now fully recovered, perhaps the veteran could bring some part-time power to the Padres lineup in 2024.

Votto had a renaissance season in 2021 with 36 big flies and 99 RBI before struggling through an injury-plagued campaign in 2022. He was replaced by the Reds' youth movement in 2023 with the team going with players like Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Spencer Steer at first base.

Votto is a tireless worker who will be out to prove that he can still perform at the highest level. He received a $7 million buyout from the Reds earlier this offseason, so an incentive-laden deal and the promise of playing time might be enough to lure the future Hall of Famer to San Diego.

The Padres can trade for a left-handed hitting outfielder

While Votto can bring a left-handed bat to the Padres lineup, you're not going to see him playing on the outfield grass. But the Padres do need to bring in a left-handed hitting outfielder. Currently, the Friars have only two outfielders on the 40-man roster.

Fernando Tatis Jr. would seem to have right field on lockdown, though there are whispers about the Padres possibly moving their Platinum Glove-winning outfielder to center field. That's where Preller needs to be selective about who he decides to target on the trade market.

While there are some left-handed hitting outfielders still available in free agency, outside of Cody Bellinger, none of them really move the needle and would be little more than a stopgap option. Eddie Rosario, David Peralta, and Jesse Winker aren't going to excite the Padres fanbase.

But perhaps Preller could work his magic and find a trade partner. The Miami Marlins have done very little this offseason. Could a player like Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Jesús Sánchez be on the trade block? JJ Bleday has fallen woefully short of expectations, but the Oakland A's seem to be selling off almost everything ahead of their move to Las Vegas. Could the Padres offer a change of scenery for the former first-round pick?

San Diego has done a good job of restocking the farm system after selling off so much over the past couple of years. But with players like Tatis, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts under contract for the next decade, the Friars can't afford to rebuild. With few viable options on the free agent market, trading for left-handed hitting outfielder would be the best way for Preller to get the most bang for his buck.

The Padres can bolster the rotation with one more free agent signing

Here's where the Padres can dip into the free agent market. With so many talented young starters in the San Diego farm system, the Padres just need another arm to help bridge the gap. No, Padres fans shouldn't expect to see a pitcher like Jordan Montgomery sign with San Diego, but there are other starters who could make sense on a one-year contract.

Hyun-Jin Ryu is still on the market, and probably represents the best left-handed starter remaining on the market not named Blake Snell. Michael Lorenzen, who's been linked to the Padres in the past, is also still available in free agency.

Currently, the Padres rotation would likely feature Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Michael King, Pedro Avila, and Randy Vasquez. While the front end of the rotation looks promising, the back end would seem to be lacking. The Padres also have Jhony Brito, Glenn Otto, and Jairo Iriarte looking to secure a spot in the rotation this spring, but there's definitely a need to add depth in this area.

Starting pitching has become incredibly expensive, and with the Padres seemingly pinching pennies this offseason, finding some value in the mid-tier market is the best approach for the San Diego front office.

The Padres have done a good job this offseason of adding to the bullpen, but they'll be exhausted from overuse by Aug. 1 if there are no more additions to the starting rotation. Before the well dries up completely, the Pads need to add a free agent starter to the roster.

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