The Padres’ offseason already has a clear pulse: keep the bullpen intact, weigh the trade market, and sort through a free-agent class that gives them more paths than usual.
One name drawing attention is Jeremiah Estrada. According to the New York Post’s Joel Sherman, the Yankees have shown interest in the right-handed pitcher multiple times over the last few years, and this winter could be the one where they finally push to get something done.
At the same time, San Diego is also being linked to a different kind of shopping list. The club has long tried to stretch its budget while still spending with purpose, and Padres On SI outlined three lower-cost free agents who could fit what the Padres need. That gives the front office options, but it also adds another layer to an offseason that already has plenty of moving parts.
The biggest piece, though, may be preserving the bullpen core. That’s been framed as one of the most important tasks on the board, especially with one reliever drawing league-wide interest and likely headed toward a massive contract before the 2027 campaign.
That lefty is coming off a dominant year, posting a 2.83 ERA while ranking in the 98th percentile in average fastball velocity, the 97th percentile in swing-and-miss percentage and the 99th percentile in limiting barrels, at just 3.8% of his pitches. He has also made it clear where he wants to be, even as the business side of the sport takes over.
“I feel sad because I don’t want to say goodbye,” he said after the team's postseason exit. “But it’s business, and let’s see what happens during the offseason.”
With the Padres staring at a long list of decisions after another early postseason exit, the offseason figures to move fast once it gets rolling. The first call may matter most.
In Other News...
Padres Prospect Justin DeCriscio Is Forcing His Way Onto The Radar
Justin DeCriscio keeps adding to his case at a time when the Padres are always looking for young players who can push their way into the conversation. After going undrafted in 2024 before landing with San Diego as a 10th-round pick in the 2025 draft, he has used the Arizona Fall League to show why his name is starting to circulate a little more loudly. The blend is obvious enough: some offensive progress, enough speed to stand out, and the kind of defensive flexibility that lets a club imagine different ways to use him.
The latest jolt came with a three-run home run, the sort of swing that gets attention beyond a prospect report. DeCriscio has also been moving around the field, which only adds to the sense that he can help himself by staying adaptable, but the bigger question remains how his bat holds up against more advanced pitching. For a player who has already taken an unusual path just to get drafted, this fall is becoming an important test of how far that late momentum can carry him. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Suddenly Have A Shot At A Power Bat Worth Debating
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For the Padres, the question is not simply whether Sato can hit, but whether his power translates cleanly to MLB pitching and where he would fit defensively. Manny Machado is expected to stay at third base, which means San Diego would have to map out another role for Sato if it moves forward, making this as much a roster puzzle as a talent evaluation. [Read more 🡒]
Jackson Merrill Quietly Built A Padres Breakout Fans Should Notice
Jackson Merrills 2026 season ended with the kind of across-the-board production that usually turns heads around the league, even if it took a while to fully show up. During a year in which only six players reached the 25-homer, 25-steal mark, the Padres had two of them, with Merrill joining Fernando Tatis Jr. in that club after a strong finish helped reshape how his season looked on paper.
The first half was uneven enough that Merrills overall numbers still settled closer to league average than star level, but the second half told a different story. He hit .304/.339/.569 after the break, added 16 homers and eight steals, and closed the year with 26 home runs and 27 stolen bases, a reminder that his breakout came less with a bang than with a steady climb the Padres could not ignore. [Read more 🡒]