The Padres may be staring at a future where the biggest offseason question isn’t whether they can chase a star, but whether they can actually make room for one.
That’s the tension hanging over the Jazz Chisholm Jr. rumor mill. CBS’ Mike Axisa linked the Padres and Rangers as two of the best landing spots for the two-time All-Star in a free agency preview, and the fit in San Diego is intriguing on paper.
Chisholm has put together 11.8 fWAR over the past three seasons, with 74 home runs and 111 stolen bases. He brings impact, athleticism and a much-needed jolt of youth.
But the Padres’ infield already looks crowded, expensive and committed for years to come. First base has been taken over by Ty France, while Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado are all under long-term deals.
Cronenworth has four years and $49 million left on his contract after 2026. Bogaerts is owed seven years and $178.15 million.
Machado has seven years and $273.63 million remaining.
That’s why any Chisholm pursuit would come with a real roster puzzle attached. Cronenworth could be moved to first base to open a spot for a player like Chisholm at second, but that would still mean another nine-figure commitment for a player who won’t turn 29 until February and would spend most of the next contract in his thirties.
The same preview also projected San Diego to lose Michael King, Adrian Morejon and Casey Mize to free agency. That kind of give-and-take is exactly what the Padres may be forced into as they navigate the finances of the roster. Still, the more obvious need may be on the pitching side, where many fans would probably prefer the team spend rather than add another bat.
With the lockout threat shortening the offseason timeline and the talent pool looking thin, A.J. Preller and his staff will have to sort through these choices sooner rather than later. Players like Chisholm won’t be easy to find this winter, but the cleaner path for San Diego may be to pass and keep the roster structure intact.
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For a San Diego club still sorting out the bottom end of its roster, Andujars return could settle one more moving part. The corresponding move is expected to send Jase Bowen back to the minors, a reminder of how much the Padres have been forced to juggle while waiting for healthy bodies to reappear and the lineup to take on a more familiar shape. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Playoff Push Just Got More Exciting Thanks To One Breakout Night
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Salas night was notable beyond the box score, since it put him in rare company as the youngest catcher in MLB history to record a multi-homer game. For a Padres club sitting at 83-69 and trying to sharpen every edge down the stretch, the combination of a rising bat and dependable pitching made this feel like more than just another win, especially with Mason Miller also singling out a teammate as the most valuable reliever in the bullpen. [Read more 🡒]