Now that the National League West rival Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series title, free agency is officially upon us. For the Padres, that means that some of the key contributors to the 2025 roster could depart this offseason.
Six Padres players became XX (B) free agents — a title designated for players with six or more years of service in the major leagues — this week. Below is a breakdown of who the Padres might lose in the offseason.
Starting Pitchers
Dylan Cease: One of the bigger names on the list of departing free agents, Cease is expected to command a salary with an average annual value between $25 million to $31 million. This will likely prevent the Padres from re-signing the pitcher, who started 32 games for the fifth season in a row — although his 4.55 ERA and 8-12 record were a bit of a disappointment for the 29-year-old.
Nestor Cortes: After the Padres acquired Cortes from the Brewers, he was sparsely used, making just six starts while giving up 16 earned runs. Much of his struggles can be blamed on left biceps tendinitis, which Cortes got surgery for right after the season. Cortes will likely miss much of next season, and will most likely not be in San Diego.