MLB Rumors: 4 under-the-radar free agents linked to the San Diego Padres

Yariel Rodriguez

Questions are going to surround the Padres bullpen this offseason, especially with the possibility of Hader leaving town. Arms are going to be at a premium this winter and Rodriguez is a name to keep an eye on.

In October, he was granted his release from the Chunichi Dragons in Japan and will there be no posting fee for signing him. He has not pitched since the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last March and he last pitched professionally when he worked out of the bullpen in 2022. He returned to the Dominican Republic following the WBC. His numbers are good and an underrated free-agent arm that could solidify the Friars' bullpen.

Nick Martinez

Last season Martinez pitched well out of the bullpen for the Padres and also pitched well in nine starts. He was 6-4 with a 3.43 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 110.1 innings pitched. San Diego declined his two-year, $32 million option and he declined their offer of two years for $16 million, but you get the sense that the Padres would like to get something done and will not close the door on his return.

A spot in the rotation could very well be up for grabs depending on what Preller does and Martinez could solidify the middle to end of the rotation as a veteran arm, something that San Diego is going to need.