{"id":834519,"date":"2026-10-21T20:27:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/834519\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T20:27:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T20:27:20","slug":"4-internal-candidates-to-solve-one-of-the-padres-biggest-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/834519\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Internal Candidates to Solve One of the Padres’ Biggest Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

The numbers paint a clear picture. To fill out a five-man rotation, the San Diego Padres will need to explore the trade or free agent markets to backfill a rotation facing the possibility of losing Michael King, Robbie Ray, Walker Buehler, Lucas Giolito and Griffin Canning<\/a> on the free-agent market.<\/p>\n

Forget the math for a second. Let’s indulge a hypothetical question: what if they don’t?<\/p>\n

Outside of Joe Musgrove and the potentially retired Yu Darvish, the Padres’ rotation is looking like a lonely place in 2027. Nick Pivetta’s $14 million club option for next season hasn’t been picked up yet<\/a>. The Padres’ internal options could be tested more than fans are comfortable admitting.<\/p>\n

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune mentioned four possibilities: Ian Koenig, JP Sears, Luis Gutierrez and Jhony Brito. Here’s a closer look at where each of the four stands.<\/p>\n

Ian Koenig<\/p>\n

Koenig, a 25-year-old right-hander, is hardly a prospect. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Cabrillo Junior College in 2022. He was passed over by 29 teams in last year’s Rule 5 draft.<\/p>\n

But after going 3-0 with a 2.33 ERA in five starts at Triple-A El Paso to end the season, Koenig looks like a sure thing to gain a 40-man roster spot this offseason. That, in theory, gives him a chance to move up quickly.<\/p>\n

JP Sears<\/p>\n

Sears, who turns 30 in February, is a known quantity. He’s made 108 starts for the Padres, Athletics and New York Yankees over the last five seasons, going 34-45 with a 4.54 ERA.<\/p>\n

This season saw him make his fewest major league starts (six) since his 2022 debut. A 7.49 ERA in 23 games at Triple-A El Paso represented a dramatic step back, but the Padres might have to hope for a regression to the mean in 2027.<\/p>\n

Luis Gutierrez<\/p>\n

A 23-year-old left-hander from Venezuela, Gutierrez saw action at four different minor-league levels in 2026. Injuries limited him to 13 starts, and his 7.71 ERA in a two-start sample at Triple-A wasn’t an improvement over 2025 (5.40 in one start).<\/p>\n

As the No. 12 prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline<\/a>, Gutierrez figures to get a look at some point even if he isn’t ready in 2027.<\/p>\n

Jhony Brito<\/p>\n

Brito, 28, started 13 games for the Yankees in 2023, but has exclusively relieved in the majors with the Padres. The right-hander missed all of 2025 recovering from internal brace surgery and a flexor tendon repair<\/a> but he returned to pitch nine innings across five outings, allowing three runs, in 2026. <\/p>\n

Sign up for our free newsletter<\/a> and follow us on Facebook<\/a> and X\/Twitter<\/a> for the latest news.<\/p>\n

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