3 San Diego Padres playing for a roster spot on the 2024 roster in September

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The 2023 season for the San Diego Padres has not been good. When they gathered for Spring Training back in February, they thought that they would be playing for a postseason berth in September. Heck, some thought that they would be playing for the National League West Division title. You can count me as the one who thought that.

It has not gone as planned to say the least. You can point to many different reasons as to why they are in the current position they are in as they enter September, all but buried in the Wild Card race. Both their pitching and hitting have been inconsistent all season long and whatever manager Bob Melvin has tried to do, it doesn't always work out.

This offseason is going to be an interesting one for GM A.J. Preller as he looks ahead to quickly turning things around in 2024. He has multiple free agents he would like to bring back, but money may be an issue as some like Blake Snell and Josh Hader could be pricing themselves out of San Diego.

San Diego Padres have three players trying to earn a roster spot for 2024 in September

What the 2024 roster looks like when the Padres gather for Spring Training in February in Arizona remains to be seen. It's anyone's guess as to who will be there. Here are three pending free agents that are trying to earn a spot in San Diego in 2024 with a strong September.

San Diego Padres v Milwaukee Brewers / John Fisher/GettyImages

San Diego Padres catcher Gary Sanchez is playing for a spot on the 2024 roster in September

Preller was looking for a bat in late May to add to the lineup and Gary Sanchez became available and the Friars' GM jumped at the chance to sign him. What an addition he has been.

Released by both the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants early in the season, Sanchez has been a solid addition behind the plate taking over for the struggling Austin Nola. In fact, Snell turned into the ace of the pitching staff when Sanchez arrived as the two have formed a strong connection.

At the plate, he has clubbed 18 home runs and he has driven in 45 runs. Looking ahead at the catcher spot next season, bringing Sanchez back is not out of the question, especially looking at how well he has worked with the pitching staff. The catching free agent market this offseason is not one that makes you think moving on from him is the logical choice.

Even if he comes back as a DH option, there is a lot of value in having him around the pitchers and catchers. A strong September for Sanchez could very well earn him another contract from San Diego next season.

Arizona Diamondbacks v San Diego Padres / Orlando Ramirez/GettyImages

San Diego Padres first baseman Garrett Cooper is playing for a spot on the 2024 roster in September

At the trade deadline, Preller traded pitcher Ryan Weathers to the Miami Marlins in exchange for Garrett Cooper and pitcher Sean Reynolds. Cooper had been good in South Florida during his time with the Marlins and was even named a 2022 All-Star.

Since being acquired, Cooper has been good for the Padres. Last week against his former team at home, Cooper played a big role in San Diego taking two out of three games in a key series with postseason implications. At 32 years old, the right-handed bat is someone who could play himself into the 2024 lineup as a backup first baseman or DH.

The Padres also acquired Ji Man Choi at the deadline, but he has been injured, which has opened the door for Cooper. He has some pop in his bat, but he also hits for average, something needed following the big bats in the lineup.

He would not cost a lot of money and is someone who should certainly be on the radar of the front office this offseason, especially if he finishes strong in September.

San Diego Padres utility infielder Jake Cronenworth is playing for a spot on the 2024 roster in September

You might be saying, Jake Cronenworth is playing for a spot on the 2024 roster? Yes, it's not crazy to think that he might not be back.

There was a report last week that the Padres would like Xander Bogaerts to consider switching positions next season, especially if prospect Jackson Merrill is ready to assume shortstop in 2024. Bogaerts moving to second or first one-year after signing an 11-year, $280 million contract would be an interesting development.

If Bogaerts makes the move to the other side of the infield, then just where does that leave an abundance of utility infielders and first basemen? San Diego would have to move Cronenworth in a trade and you have to think that they would get a good return for the 29-year-old who has struggled at times this season.

San Diego already has a lot of money locked up in next season's team and if they want to consider bringing back some key arms like Snell and Hader, then clearing some salary is the move Preller would have to go before his base salary rises.

Of course, there is a chance Cronenworth may not be back in September, even after news broke that he won't need surgery on his fractured right wrist. If he doesn't come back before the end of the season, has he done enough to earn his spot in 2024?

There are a lot of ways San Diego could go this upcoming offseason, but it's safe to say that a lot of avenues are open when it comes to bringing some of the current players back in 2024. Whatever happens, they need a good offseason to come back in a better position next season to contend and take the next step they thought they were going to do this season.

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