3 San Diego Padres moves that worked out better than expected in 2023

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There is no question that the 2023 season did not go as planned for the San Diego Padres. There were big expectations entering the season after a trip to the National League Championship Series last October against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Things just never worked out for Bob Melvin and A.J. Preller despite having a roster with a roster that they thought was built to win. It wasn't and now there is a good chance when San Diego gathers for spring training next February, things are going to look different. How different, that remains to be seen. Does Melvin come back as manager? Does Preller come back as GM? So many questions with little answers.

There are questions surrounding players on whether or not they will be back. It's unlikely that starting pitcher Blake Snell and closer Josh Hader return to Southern California and what do the Friars do with All-Star outfiedler Juan Soto? Do they trade him or keep him and run it back with a loaded lineup in 2024?

There were some additions to the roster that turned out better than was expected of them in 2023 despite the team's struggles and missing the postseason. Here are three players that performed and worked out better than expected when the season started back in March.

Colorado Rockies v San Diego Padres / Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/GettyImages

The signing of Michael Wacha worked out better than expected in 2023

Last season, Michael Wacha had a very good season with the Boston Red Sox, going 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA. The craft right-hander became one of the players that Boston chose to not re-sign and bring back for 2024 and Preller swooped in and signed him.

In February, Wacha agreed to a four-year, $26 million contract with San Diego and, despite battling injuries, he was one of the top arms in Melvin's rotation this season. He made just one start from June 20 to August 15, but when he was on the mound, he was good.

He finished the season with a 14-4 record with a 3.22 ERA in 24 starts. He pitched 134.1 innings with 124 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.16. He allowed 48 earned runs but, like a lot of other pitchers on the staff in the starting rotation and bullpen, he worked really well with Gary Sanchez after the veteran signed with the Padres. Wacha closed out the season with seven scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox in a 6-1 win on Saturday night.

Pitching is going to be one of the big question marks entering the offseason with the likely loss of Snell and picking up the mutual option for 2024 for the Padres is an almost must.

San Diego Padres v Milwaukee Brewers / John Fisher/GettyImages

The signing of Gary Sanchez worked out better than expected in 2023

Looking to solidify the catching position in late May, Preller signed Sanchez after the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets let him go after taking a flyer on him. Their loss turned out to be the Padres gain.

Behind the plate, the veteran stabilized the pitching staff and formed an instant connection with Snell which is one of the reasons why he's one of the favorites to win the Cy Young Award. After Sanchez was signed, Snell went 10-3 and finished the month of June with a 0.87 ERA and July with a 0.56 ERA. It rose in August to 3.00 but went back down in September to 0.58.

Sanchez can't be credited with Snell's success in September after his season ended on September 6 when his wrist was fractured after being hit by a pitch against the Phillies. He finished the season slashing .217/.288/.492, which is not going to blow you away, but he produced 19 home runs and 47 RBI in 75 games.

A free agent this winter, he is someone who San Diego should seriously consider bringing back next season to work with the pitching staff. He's not going to command a big contract and a veteran behind the plate with prospect Luis Campusano is a duo that can be successful if that's the route the front office decides to go.

Moving Seth Lugo to the starting rotation worked out better than expected in 2023

Despite adding Wacha in free agency, the Padres decided to sign Seth Lugo from the bullpen to the starting rotation and it certainly worked out better than expected and sounded entering the season.

A longtime reliever with the New York Mets, Lugo made the move to the starting rotation and made a seamless transition. He was only 8-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 146.1 innings and 140 strikeouts, but he was a reliable arm for Melvin and like Snell, his numbers would have been better with more run support, something that was an issue at times this season.

He finished the season strong, going 3-1 in September in 31 innings and saved his best start for his last one, coming one out from a complete game and allowing just three hits to the Giants. The 34-year-old has a player option for 2024 and it will be interesting to see what happens as he is worth bringing back.

You can make the case that there were some moves made that did not work out. Matt Carpenter and Nelson Cruz would be at the top of that list for Preller, but things coud have been worse, believe it or not, for the Padres in 2023 without these three moves. Now we'll see what the front office has in store for 2024 over the next four months.

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The signing of Michael Wacha worked out better than expected in 2023

The signing of Gary Sanchez worked out better than expected in 2023

Moving Seth Lugo to the starting rotation worked out better than expected in 2023

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