(AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

The San Diego Padres may want to explore Adolis Garcia in their quest to add offensive punch this winter.

This week, 2023 ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers, ending his time as one of the team’s core players. Coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons where he graded out as a below league-average hitter, Garcia will be looking for a new home this winter. 

The right-handed hitter’s legendary 2023 playoff run is the peak of his career, where he had several clutch moments in helping lead the Rangers to a 2023 World Series title.

In those playoffs, Garcia hit eight home runs in 15 games and slugged for a 1.108 OPS, rewarding the Rangers even more for trading for him from the St. Louis Cardinals. Garcia’s six-year tenure as a Ranger saw him selected twice as an American League All-Star and win a Gold Glove in 2023. The final two seasons were disappointing for Garcia and the Rangers, who expected more success for the individual and the team. 

Garcia’s slashline has regressed the last two seasons from .245/.328/.508 in 2023 down to .227/.271/.394 in 2025, with his OPS dropping from .836 to .665.

The aspect of Garcia’s game that is still strong is his defense, as he still grades as an above-average defender. Much of Garcia’s struggles seem to be mechanical in nature. In a mechanical breakdown for Sports Illustrated, Tom Verducci breaks down several technical issues that Garcia was going through, leading to Bruce Bochy benching him to try and recapture his ability from past seasons.

How Did Adolis Garcia Fix His Swing SO Fast?! | Tom Verducci | Sports Illustrated Garcia did find some progress by raising his OPS in June, July, and August before he suffered an ankle sprain. Just 9 games after his return, he suffered a grade 2 quad strain.  

The Padres could buy low on a bounce-back season for Garcia that could pay dividends for them in the end.

With the mechanical changes being very evident, Garcia will be motivated to turn things around, and the Padres could provide an interesting opportunity.

There is no clear need in the outfield as all three spots are occupied by stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill, along with the 2025 breakout of Ramon Laureano. If Garcia is willing to play left field, the Padres can play him out there and use Laureano as their designated hitter. The designated hitter spot could also be used to cycle around for rest days for Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Gavin Sheets as well.

Garcia could shore up what is already a great Padres defensive outfield unit and provide lineup depth. Being able to hit lower in the lineup without the pressure of having to lead his team could provide Garcia with some space to work on his craft and improve.

General Manager A.J. Preller is entering an interesting offseason where he will have to focus on starting pitching and buy on the margins offensively. The team’s depth chart is already good at all positions, but depth is needed. Being able to buy low on a former All-Star that was a playoff hero could be exactly what the Padres need.

If Adolis Garcia can tap into his former magic, the Padres could be well-equipped to improve on their past playoff woes and go on a deeper playoff run.

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