The Padres should absolutely entertain a reunion with their former All-Star closer

Everyone loves a comeback. Everyone also loves a reunion, too, and for the San Diego Padres, they might want to run it back with an old friend. The 2024 Padres had one of the best bullpens in baseball, highlighted by Tanner Scott and Robert Suarez. With Scott entering free agency as the biggest reliever on the market, he's unlikely to return to San Diego.

No harm there, but this does potentially open up a spot for AJ Preller to go out and sign another pitcher, whether starter or reliever. While there is always a stream of options for bullpen arms, the Friars could look into the possibility of having a former reliable reliever return to San Diego.

Padres Rumors: Should San Diego consider a reunion with Kirby Yates?

Kirby Yates, 37, is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. Suiting up for the Texas Rangers in 2024, Yates was named to the All-MLB Team, earned his second All-Star nod and placed eighth in the American League Cy Young Award race. And now he is a free agent.

The last time (and only time) Yates was an All-Star with a Top-10 finish in the Cy Young voting? Let's turn back to 2019 with his time in San Diego when he logged a league-best 41 saves and a 15.0 K/9. He was just as dominant in 2024, recording a 1.17 ERA and 33 saves.

A late resurgence among relievers is more common than you think. Just look at Daniel Bard, only Yates is a better version of him. So, it's fair to say that Yates' campaign this season was not a fluke, which has many wondering how much money he is looking for in the twilight years of his career. He was paid $4.5 million on a one-year deal this past season, so he will likely seek a raise above that. But how high?

Money might not be Yates' top priority. He's looking for comfort, and he's looking to be close to home. A native Hawaiian, Yates lives in Arizona with his wife and children. He is hoping to compete with a team close in proximity to both states, and San Diego might be his best option. This, along with his familiarity to the Friars organization, could be the perfect combination to entice him to return. It also doesn't hurt that the Padres are in win-now mode, and Yates would love to end his career with a World Series ring.

Bringing Yates back would also be a tremendous cost-effective option to replace Scott, and could serve as a partial fallback plan in the event the Padres don't sign Roki Sasaki. If they can't add another high-end starter, they might as well keep beefing up the bullpen.

A bullpen comprised of Yates, Suarez, Jason Adam, Adrián Morejón and Yuki Matsui would be among the best in the game This would surely increase San Diego's chances of being a contender once again, especially in the postseason when pitching is as vital as ever. Yates will face less pressure this time around with those supporting cast members around him too, as opposed to his time in Texas when he was shouldering the load in 2024.