Credit: AP Photo
As the offseason gets rolling and free agents are expected to start signing soon, the financial picture is not clear for what the San Diego Padres have available to spend.
Between possible financial restraints, a potential lockout next offseason, as well as the potential sale of the team, the Padres may be looking for inexpensive short-term additions.
While the team’s pitching requires the bulk of the offseason’s attention, their playoff failures have come due to a lack of offense.
The Padres will be returning every starter from the second half of their season, aside from Ryan O’Hearn and Luis Arraez, who are free agents. With Gavin Sheets on the team, a player who earned an increase in playing time, the Padres will truly just need lineup depth, mostly at first base, catcher, and designated hitter.
Below are ten options that can be explored.
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Catchers
A reunion with Gary Sanchez can be an appealing one for the Padres, as they lacked power in the 2025 season. His tenure with the team in 2023 was a resurgence for him that earned him a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. At $4 million last season in an injury-riddled season with the Baltimore Orioles, he can be a low-risk option for a comeback season, splitting catching duties with Freddy Fermin or even taking at-bats at designated hitter. He provides an opposite profile to Fermin as a slugging catcher compared to Fermin’s contact-first profile and can give the team a balanced catching tandem.
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Another familiar name for the Padres who is coming off two of his best seasons offensively is Caratini. He is a bit of an overqualified backup option who is a switch-hitter. His .434 slugging percentage against lefties is a vast improvement over Freddy Fermin and could provide a balance for the catching tandem. Although they both fare better against right-handed pitchers in terms of their averages, Caratini’s OPS is higher against lefties and could create a natural platoon.
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First Base
A potentially more expensive option, unless he is willing to take a team-friendly deal to try and compete, is Paul Goldschmidt. He could be the perfect platoon partner for Gavin Sheets at first base. With a .981 OPS versus southpaws, Goldschmidt could provide a great bat for the Padres to use, avoiding the type of lefty logjam that poisoned them during the playoffs against the Chicago Cubs. All National League contenders have at least one lefty they can turn to, which could be difficult, and Goldschmidt, who has years of experience in the NL West, could be a great option to turn to in a time of need.
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Another NL West veteran who can provide a right-handed platoon for Gavin Sheets, Flores is a few years away from a very dominant season. He has regressed the last two seasons, but his pulled flyball approach could benefit him a lot more in San Diego than it does in San Francisco. Much of his regression is due to his discipline stats getting worse, but he could benefit from being able to hit at the bottom of the Padres lineup as opposed to the middle of the order, where he mostly did with the Giants.
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Designated Hitters
A player who is only a season removed from an All-Star appearance is Marcell Ozuna. He is a player who could be due for a bounce-back season. After back-to-back seasons of over a .900 OPS, Ozuna regressed to a very respectable .756 OPS in 2025 and a 113 OPS+. His 21 home runs would have placed him third on the Padres, and his 68 RBI would have placed him fourth. He is a better hitter against right-handed pitchers, which makes him less of a platoon option, but does allow for the team to focus on a first base platoon for Gavin Sheets. His contract may cost a bit more, but the Padres may be able to lower the AAV with a second year on the deal or perhaps get creative like we’ve seen in the past and give an incentive-heavy deal.
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Starling Marte is coming off a four-year deal with the Mets that saw him become an almost exclusive designated hitter due to injury concerns he has every season. A 111 OPS+ this past season makes him an intriguing option for the Padres this coming season, as he can still hit above league average. As previously mentioned, taking the bulk of designated hitter appearances allows the Padres to get a platoon partner for Sheets at first base and allows extra depth on the roster, along with giving some days or half days off for the team’s veterans. Marte does not seem to be expected to sign for much, which could fit right into the team’s needs.
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One of the younger players on this list is Miguel Andujar. He has the potential to be the lowest risk and the highest reward. Coming off a season where he posted .318/.352/.470 splits and a 125 OPS+, Andujar could be the 2026 version of Gavin Sheets. Having bounced around since being traded from the New York Yankees, Andujar has been a pretty consistent hitter without a consistent home. Slugging a .987 OPS against lefties and an above league average .760 against righties, Andujar could help take the Padres to another level. An underrated bat that general manager A.J. Preller could use to bolster the run production of this lineup and really tap into a lineup where there are no easy outs.Â
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Credit: AP Photo
Utility Players
Willi Castro is a very intriguing option as a jack of all positions player who has played everywhere but first base and catcher. Although his offensive numbers aren’t particularly strong anywhere, and his defense is even less impressive, playing on a contender could be something that unlocks a little more out of Castro’s game. Being able to plug him in pretty much anywhere could be a great asset for new manager Craig Stammen on a nightly basis. Castro’s ability to play the middle infield could help give shortstop Xander Bogaerts some days off. It could also be the platoon piece (in addition to some of the designated hitter options) to really put the team’s lineup puzzle together. Castro will be looking to prove himself, and many experts predict him to sign with the Padres this offseason.
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A platoon hitter who found a lot of success with the Boston Red Sox is Rob Refsnyder. He is an intriguing utility player who has mostly been relegated to outfield appearances but has experience at every infield position other than shortstop and catcher. His .959 OPS versus lefties made him a huge piece for the Red Sox for the last four seasons. How much of that success is due to Fenway Park remains to be seen. But the Red Sox definitely have figured out the blueprint to unlock his potential, and the Padres could be wise in doing the same thing.
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Our final player is another extreme lefty platoon option with a lot more versatility. A bit of a mix of the previous two players highlighted, Rosario mashes against lefties and has played all outfield spots, along with the middle infield, where he started, and third base. Another bat that manager Craig Stammen could use in several different positions. Rosario creates opportunities for the Padres to flex some depth. With an .819 OPS in 2025 versus lefties with some potential to run a bit more, Rosario could be the type of bat that helps turn the lineup over and create run-scoring opportunities while also allowing some depth in case of injuries.
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What this list shows is that there are some creative ways for the Padres to get better.
A team that is clearly set with its stars, who all have potential for positive regression themselves, simply needs to add on the margins.
We have seen A.J. Preller get creative with these kinds of moves in the last few years on both sides of the ball. Now more than ever, dominating the lower part of the free agency market could be the difference between another early playoff exit and contending for a World Series championship.
30
East Coast Based
Dominican
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