There's no reason for this player to still be on the Padres roster

In the 2025 MLB season, one of the more debated roster decisions for the San Diego Padres involves veteran outfielder Jason Heyward. Entering May 13 with a batting average sitting at just .181 and an OPS of .517, it's fair to ask why he is still on the team. If you’ve been watching Padres baseball this season, you’ve probably asked yourself that question especially given his last four games, all while outfielder Brandon Lockridge has returned from injury.

Jason Heyward has struggled for Padres while others succeed

Entering May 13, things have not looked pretty as of late for Heyward, which has him joining other veterans who were cut by the Padres this season. This is a time, mind you, when he needs to be proving why he should still play. He's just 2-for-his-last-19 over this stretch.

His -0.4 bWAR tells a pretty clear story on offense, which is that he's not contributing much. He's striking out more than he's walking (16:5), and just hasn't been able to string together consistent at-bats.

Let’s be real. Heyward isn’t the slugger he once was. But he’s showing some life at the plate, especially with that clutch homer against Colorado this past week. Combine that with his still-solid defense and veteran presence, and you start to see why the Padres are keeping him around… for now.

This is a team that has World Series aspirations, and Heyward’s presence is part of a bigger plan, but at what cost? He’s often used in platoon situations, facing mostly right-handed pitching, and remains a strong defensive outfielder - which is probably not enough to keep him on the active roster. More importantly, he’s a stabilizing presence for a clubhouse that mixes young talent with veterans trying to make a deep playoff run, so maybe that's what he is clinging to at this point.

The Padres have shown they’re willing to move on from veterans who aren't producing. Heyward's position is very much performance-based moving forward. If his bat doesn't come around and better options emerge, the team may be forced to make a tough call.

For Padres fans? We’re rooting for him, but baseball is a "what have you done for me lately?" game. And for Jason Heyward, the next few weeks might decide everything.