The San Diego Padres could use some starting pitching this offseason, but that doesn’t mean the team won’t continue looking to improve its starting lineup.
The Padres retained 30-year-old hurler Michael King this offseason, but have a big hole in their rotation after losing Dylan Cease. San Diego has not made any major additions to its offense, on the other hand. Despite making the playoffs, the Padres’ offense lacked power this season, clubbing the third-fewest home runs in the league.
In addition to pitching, the Padres should add some power to their lineup this offseason. Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer urged the team to pursue Atlanta Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna in free agency.
“Marcell Ozuna turned 35 on Nov. 12, which is worth noting because he really did show signs of aging this season,” Rymer wrote Tuesday. “After slamming 79 home runs across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, it’s no accident that he didn’t come close to another 40-homer campaign this year. His key batted ball metrics all took a turn for the worse, and it’s hard to separate that from a 1.1 mph downturn in his average bat speed.
“If nothing else, though, Ozuna’s plate discipline had never been better. He walked a career-high 15.9 percent of the time, with a chase rate in the 85th percentile. If that alone could be the foundation for a solid 113 OPS-plus like the one he had this year, then there’s a lot more waiting if he can turn some of his power back on.”
Though Ozuna regressed this season, the three-time All-Star still mashed 21 home runs and has hit 100 home runs across the past three seasons. The 35-year-old can still make a big impact for a Padres team in desperate need of power despite his age.
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