The Padres’ offseason picture got a little busier on multiple fronts, with two players officially out of the organization, Tarik Skubal surfacing as a reported target, and Adrian Morejon drawing fresh free-agent attention.
According to the team’s transaction log on MiLB.com, San Diego officially released two international free agents it signed last year: an 18-year-old pitcher from the Dominican Republic and a 19-year-old outfielder from Venezuela. Both will now have to find a new organization if they want to keep their pro careers moving forward.
At the top end of the roster conversation, the Padres have reportedly shown interest in two-time Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal. An MLB insider reported the connection, and it fits the kind of aggressive pitching hunt San Diego is expected to pursue. The Padres’ rotation logged the fourth-fewest innings in MLB last season, so adding Skubal would instantly change the shape of what they can build in 2027.
Morejon, meanwhile, is becoming one of the more intriguing names on the market. A surprise team has been linked to the left-hander, who is expected to land a deal in the neighborhood of $100 million. That kind of payday would be unusual for a middle reliever, but Morejon has pitched like much more than that.
The 27-year-old owns a 2.58 ERA over 223 innings dating back to 2023. Last season, he ranked in the 98th percentile in average fastball velocity at 99.4 mph and in the 99th percentile in chase percentage, with hitters chasing 38.6% of the time.
After San Diego was knocked out in the National League Division Series last month, Morejon made his feelings clear about where he’d like to be next. When asked if he would want to return in 2027, he said that "everybody knows that" he would welcome one.
"Even with free agency coming, they know I want to stay," Morejon said at the time. "This is the organization I’ve been a part of for more than 10 years.
I’ve sacrificed a lot. I’m proud to be a member of the Padres.
Hopefully that will continue."
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Kemp showed the kind of arm strength that can stand out in this setting, while McCoy had a mixed night that included both a single and a double play. DeCriscio, meanwhile, delivered one of the games cleaner details with a key squeeze bunt for the National League side in its 7-4 win, the sort of small-ball play that can still matter when prospects are trying to make a name for themselves. [Read more 🡒]
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Skubal is projected to land a record-breaking deal, which tells you how high the bar is for any team hoping to get involved. For the Padres, the interest underscores just how aggressively they may need to chase top-end pitching if they want to close the gap in the division, and it sets up a winter where their rotation plans could become one of the biggest storylines in the league. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Fans Can See Where This Michael King Debate Is Headed
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For Padres fans, the concern is not just whether King is worth that kind of commitment, but whether another club with a clear rotation need and room to spend decides to jump in first. The Cardinals have been mentioned as a team weighing both their pitching needs and payroll flexibility, and if they get serious, San Diego could be staring at a familiar offseason question: how hard is it willing to push to keep a pitcher who already proved he can matter in its rotation? [Read more 🡒]