The San Diego Padres broke spring camp with Brandon Lockridge and Yuli Gurriel as their last roster picks. Both Eguy Rosario and Tyler Wade were out of options and had to be placed on waivers.

Both cleared waivers and accepted minor league contracts, both being assigned to Triple-A El Paso. The Padres were surprised that Wade wasn’t claimed by another team but had really hoped to retain him:

Even after announcing that Wade would be DFA’d, president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said that he hoped the utility man would stay in the organization.

In El Paso, Wade played in six games and 28 AB, hitting .321/.406/.321 with 1 RBI and 2 stolen bases. On April 11, Jake Cronenworth was placed on the IL with a fractured rib and Wade was called up from El Paso. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, RHP Matt Waldron was moved to the 60-day IL with a left oblique strain.

The Padres had already lost Jackson Merrill to a hamstring strain and, three days after Wade was promoted, Brandon Lockridge was also placed on the IL with a strained hamstring. Very quickly, Wade became the primary centerfielder, which was what Lockridge was playing when he was injured (after taking over for Merrill).

Tyler Wade, 30, is in his second season with the Padres organization. Signed during the offseason, the only major league signing until pitcher Nick Pivetta agreed to a contract, Wade signed a two-year deal, making $900,00 this season and a team option for $1 million next season.

The lefty super-utility man is a baseball Swiss army knife. Padres manager Mike Shildt was quoted last season regarding what Wade does for the Padres:

“I don’t think you can quantify what a Tyler Wade means to a team,” said Shildt after an extra-innings win last September. “When you have players like Wade, it is hard for the industry to understandably quantify their value. But his value to our ballclub is high on a lot of levels. He is able to stay sharp when we have a lot of regulars we ride with consistently. But he stays sharp so when he gets his moment he is ready to take a good at-bat or be able to make a contributing play on the bases or defensively like he did last night.”

Tyler Wade has played every position except first base, catcher and pitcher for the Padres organization. He has had minimal experience in centerfield but you wouldn’t know it by the way he filled in for Merrill and Lockridge while they were injured. His defense was errorless and in his 48 at-bats, playing center field and relieving Jose Iglesias at second base. Wade has hit .292./ 404/.354 with a double, a triple and 3 RBI. He can pinch run, DH, be a late-inning defensive replacement, and is lauded constantly for his dugout and clubhouse presence.

Wade knows his role has value; “We’re all teammates here, right?” Wade said. “I want to make sure whenever I am on the field, we all have that same chemistry, and no one skips a beat. I think that’s very important. If you look at all the winning teams … they have guys like myself that are good clubhouse guys that get plugged in wherever and you don’t have to worry about them.”

Manager Mike Shildt has his favorite descriptions for what makes a winning team. ‘Winning on the margins’ is one of his favorites. Wade is a great example for what that phrase means. His intangibles define him.

“He’s clearly a guy that we really, really appreciate on our club,” manager Mike Shildt said. “Brings a lot on the field and from a culture standpoint, energy standpoint.”

When discussing why he choose to re-sign with the Padres and not try to get a better opportunity elsewhere, Wade uses these words; “I’m just happy to be a Padre, man, I think I embody what the Padres preach and what we coach.”

Later in that same interview, Wade detailed that the team expressed to him what he means to the organization, the fans and the city of San Diego. He repeated that he embodies what a San Diego Padres is.

Padres starter Michael King reiterated that the whole team values what Wade brings and spoke about a game last season where Wade was reading the opposing pitcher and sharing the information with his teammates.

“It was like, we were just hanging out, having fun, because we got to this pitcher and we’re flipping to the reliever, and Wade comes in with his knowledge. It’s those kinds of things that make him invaluable to the team.”

That is the one word uttered most often about Wade, a guy who started at six positions but in just 38 games in 2024, his first season with the Padres.

When Jake Cronenworth returns, hopefully this week, there will be another tough decision to make for the Padres regarding who gets sent down to El Paso. It seems safe to say that the organization will not be choosing Wade.

After repeatedly proving his worth to this team, the Padres would be wise to not take any more chances with losing him.