4 San Diego Padres who are playing their way out of the team's 2024 plans

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All eyes aren't quite on 2024 yet for the San Diego Padres, but they're just one more bad stretch away from that being their reality. After a thrilling run to the NLCS last season, the Padres stand at 58-63 on the year and 4.5 games back of the third Wild Card spot in the NL.

We saw the Padres make it to the NLCS as the second Wild Card team, but that team won 89 games. For them to get to that number, they'd have to win 31 of their remaining 41 games. Very, very unlikely.

We all hope this team squeaks into the playoffs, but there should also be some focus on 2024, a season the Padres have a much better shot in. These four players are contributing to the Padres struggles and are playing their way out of the team's 2024 plans.

1) Scott Barlow is playing his way out of the 2024 plans for the San Diego Padres

Is it too early? Possibly. Scott Barlow is only six appearances into his Padres career after being acquired at the deadline in a deal with the Royals, but things are not off to the best of starts.

The right-hander has allowed nine runs (seven earned) in 7.2 innings of work. Now, if Barlow was the Barlow of old I would just say this is a rough patch and forget about it, but he's had a miserable year in 2023.

Overall, he has a 5.83 ERA in 44 appearances and 46.1 innings pitched. I felt like a change of scenery coming to a place trying to win would've helped, but in his two biggest games as a Padre against the Dodgers he floundered each time, allowing three earned runs in back-to-back appearances.

Barlow has one more year of team control remaining, and will see an increase from his $5.3 million. I understand how good Barlow has been in the past, but the 30-year-old has looked nothing like that guy in 2023. Can the Padres take the gamble that he'll return to form in 2024? Sure. But they can also sign a different reliever for a similar price who doesn't look like a shell of his former self.

San Diego Padres pinch hitter Matt Carpenter / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

2) Matt Carpenter is playing his way out of the 2024 plans for the San Diego Padres

This one feels kind of obvious, but has to be stated anyway since for some reason, Matt Carpenter is still with the Padres. The 37-year-old was signed to a two-year deal this past offseason after appearing to revive his career in the Bronx, but after a solid first month, he's been a disaster in San Diego.

Since May 1, he's slashing .127/.261/.195 with one home run and 11 RBI. He has 15 hits in his last 118 at-bats. He has two hits in his last 37 at-bats if you want a more recent sample.

Carpenter was expected to be the primary DH to start against right-handed pitching, but was so bad to the point where Gary Sanchez was taking over that role. The Padres acquired Ji-Man Choi at the deadline to be the primary DH, but then Choi landed on the IL. With Choi out, it's Garrett Cooper acting as the DH.

Carpenter has one at-bat since July 24 and it came as a pinch-hitter in a blowout. He hasn't started a game since July 23. He hasn't recorded a hit since July 16. Yes, over a month since his last hit. Carpenter has a player option which he will surely opt into, but the Padres can't go into 2024 with this guy who they refuse to play now on the roster.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Rich Hill / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

3) Rich Hill is playing his way out of the 2024 plans for the San Diego Padres

A two-start sample might be too unfair to judge, but like Scott Barlow, Rich Hill has made a poor introduction to Padres fans. He allowed six runs in three innings in a loss to the Dodgers on Sunday Night Baseball, and more disappointingly, allowed three runs in 3.1 innings pitched in a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team they're chasing.

If his starts with the Padres were the only disappointing ones it'd be easier to point to the small sample size, but Hill has a 5.17 ERA in 24 starts this season. His ERA is the fifth highest in baseball among qualified starting pitchers. That's not great.

To make matters worse, he's 43 years old. His age makes him a really easy player to root for, but he could simply not have it anymore. I thought when the Padres acquired him, if Hill wanted to keep going, he'd be a solid option for a swingman type of role in 2024. Work out of the bullpen in long relief and act as a depth starter if the Padres need that.

Unfortunately, Hill is playing himself out of a role with this team. There's still time to turn it around, but a rough year all around, not just with San Diego, makes it unlikely the team pursues a reunion.

San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

4) Austin Nola is playing his way out of the 2024 plans for the San Diego Padres

This is another rather obvious one, as Austin Nola has virtually sealed his fate when it comes to his future with this organization. Austin Nola isn't the main reason this offense has drastically underperformed. but he certainly contributed.

Nola began the year as the starting catcher, but after slashing .146/.260/.192 with one home run and eight RBI in 52 games, he was sent down to Triple-A El Paso. Nola has played in just eight games since going down, and has five hits in 27 at-bats in the minors.

The Padres don't have a clear solution behind the plate for 2024. Gary Sanchez is going to be a free agent. Luis Campusano, while good in a small sample this year, is unproven. Nola has two more years of team control but his monstrous struggles at the plate this season make him a candidate the Padres just can't take seriously.

It's possible San Diego keeps Nola around as depth I suppose, but they can't plan for 2024 with him being part of the active roster. It's more likely he's just non-tendered at this point.

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