Credit: AP Photo
It would appear that A.J. Preller has struck again.
After re-signing ace Michael King and landing KBO star Sung-Mun Song, Preller added to the list.
The busy week became even busier with the Padres announcing they signed infielder José Miranda to a minor-league contract with a spring training invite.
The signing may feel familiar to Padres fans, as it is a classic low-risk flier on a guy who was once a promising hitter who has fallen off hard. Miranda is a versatile player, and the former second-round pick has big-league experience all over the infield. This versatility is an asset to the Friars, who have lost notably versatile players such as Ha Seong Kim in recent years.
Miranda spent the last four seasons in the Twins organization and has experienced many ups and downs.
While he had a decent 2022 season, batting .268, the right-handed hitter suffered an injury in 2023, which severely limited him.
Historically, Miranda has shown reverse splits.
In 2024, Miranda hit .313/.856 OPS vs. right-handed pitchers, but only .226/.573 OPS vs. left-handed pitchers. Overall, the 6-foot-1 third baseman had a rough 2025, and after an early demotion, slashed just .195/.272/.296 in Triple-A. While the bat really deserted him, at 27, if he can regain even a fraction of his 2024 form (.284/.322/.441, 114 wRC+), Miranda could certainly compete for a bench and/or utility spot.
The Friars sport a rather crowded infield already between Manny Machado at third base, Xander Bogaerts at shortstop, and Jake Cronenworth at second base. With both Ryan O’Hearn and Luis Arraez remaining unsigned, there may be more space than there was in previous years.
Utility man Sung-Mun Song adds to this talented infield group. However, with trade rumors surrounding Jake Cronenworth, a right-handed bat with multi-position flexibility could carve out a role, especially if San Diego needs platoon help or injury coverage.
In all, the signing is a low-risk, high-reward move for the Padres, who have struck gold in similar signings in recent years, such as Donovan Solano in 2024 and the mildly clutch Jose Iglesias in 2025.
The signing isn’t flashy, but it provides solid depth with massive upside.
Spring training will tell a lot, and as the season develops, it will become clear what role Miranda steps into. Another positive is that at 27, this isn’t a repeat of the infamous Matt Carpenter or Yuli Gurriel signings of 2023 and 2025. Even if this does not pan out, it will be hard to justify giving Preller a hard time for taking a flier on a 27-year-old with upside.
Regardless, Preller has quietly made a solid signing that could certainly pay off for the Padres in 2026.
Billy has spent a majority of his life following San Diego sports and worked in San Diego for many years. Now residing in Newport Beach he recently obtained his Juris Doctorate degree from Chapman University and now works as an Associate Personal Injury Attorney. Billy enjoys supporting the Padres and SDFC from Orange County and making the drive down for big games. He is passionate about analytics and writing about sports.
Continue Reading