The San Diego Padres have added yet another former New York Yankees player, signing ex-Yankees infielder Pablo Reyes to a minor-league contract on Thursday.
Reyes, 32, hit .194 (6-for-31) with two RBIs, a stolen base, and a .468 OPS in 24 games last season. The Yankees released him in June, and although he signed with the crosstown Mets, he did not return to the majors.
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A seven-year veteran who has played for five teams, Reyes is a versatile utilityman who has primarily played second base, shortstop, and third base in the majors. He’s also seen extensive outfield experience, mainly in center and right field.
Reyes’ contract is expected to include an invitation to spring training. It is unclear if the contract features an opt-out clause.
San Diego Padres infielder Pablo Reyes played for the New York Yankees in 2025Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Reyes is a lifetime .245 hitter over 257 games with the Yankees, Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, and Milwaukee Brewers. He signed with the Pirates as an international amateur free agent in 2012 and made his MLB debut six years later.
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Pablo Reyes Is the Newest Former Yankee to Join the Padres
The Padres have quietly stockpiled various former Yankees players in recent years, with several coming over in the December 2023 Juan Soto trade. In exchange for Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham, the Yankees sent backup catcher Kyle Higashioka and four pitchers — Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, and Randy Vásquez — to the Padres.
Higashioka only lasted one year in San Diego before signing with the Texas Rangers last offseason. King, who mostly came out of the bullpen during his five years with the Yankees, provided the Padres with a 3.10 ERA and 5.2 bWAR over the last two seasons. He became a free agent earlier this month and remained unsigned as of publication.
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Vásquez has become a mainstay in the Padres’ rotation over the last two years, posting a 4.27 ERA in 231 2/3 innings. However, he drastically improved his ERA from 4.87 to 3.84 this past season.
Brito went 1-2 with a 4.12 ERA and a 29-10 K-BB ratio in 43 2/3 innings for the Padres in 2024. He missed all of 2025 after undergoing UCL surgery and a procedure to repair a flexor tendon. The Padres traded Thorpe, along with three prospects, to the Chicago White Sox in March 2024 for starting pitcher Dylan Cease.
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Relievers Ron Marinaccio and Wandy Peralta, both of whom previously pitched for the Yankees, are on the Padres’ 40-man roster. Marinaccio tallied a 0.84 ERA and a 12-4 K-BB ratio in 10 2/3 innings for the Padres. Peralta owns a 3.44 ERA in 117 appearances since signing with the Padres ahead of the 2024 season.
JP Sears, who the Yankees sent to the Athletics in August 2022, joined the Padres in the Mason Miller trade last summer. Finally, the Padres acquired ex-Yankees All-Star pitcher Nestor Cortes this past July, though Cortes is a free agent and could miss the 2026 season following surgery to repair a tendon in his left arm.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.