The Padres’ offseason has plenty of moving parts, but two of the trickiest calls sit with Gavin Sheets and Nick Pivetta.
Both players matter for different reasons, and both bring complications San Diego has to sort through soon. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com broke down the situations, and the picture isn’t simple.
Sheets’ problem starts with his health. He dealt with plantar fasciitis early, then ended up with a complete plantar plate tear in his left foot that limited him in September.
Manager Craig Stammen said Sheets would likely choose not to have surgery, though he does have that option. Stammen also expects him to be ready for spring training.
The bigger issue with Sheets is fit. He’s 30, and he’s one of several veterans in the mix who can deliver timely production even if the overall numbers don’t jump off the page. This season, he hit .212/.313/.397, with the foot problem clearly hanging over those results.
That leaves San Diego weighing value against direction. The Padres need to get younger and more athletic, and there are only so many places on the roster where they can make that happen. Giving Sheets a major role could block a younger player the club might sign or trade for to help push in that direction.
Pivetta’s case is different, but no less delicate. He made a strong return late in the year after spending most of the season on the IL with elbow and forearm issues, though he still couldn’t give the Padres much length once he was back.
His contract makes the decision even more complicated. Pivetta still has two years and $32 million left on his deal, and there’s also a condition tied to his player option for 2028 at $18 million if San Diego picks up its team option for next year.
The clock is ticking, too. Cassavell noted the Padres have to decide on Pivetta within five days after the World Series ends, which puts the call right around the corner.
A renegotiation is on the table, but that doesn’t erase the elbow issue. GM A.J.
Preller said the Padres’ staff will meet soon to sort through the best plan, and he said he hopes Pivetta wants to be “part of that puzzle.” There are plenty of pieces to fit together, and these are two of the harder ones.
In Other News...
Padres Owners Just Raised The Stakes For A Huge Offseason
The Padres new principal owners, Kwanza Jones and Jos E. Feliciano, used a letter to season-ticket members to put their intentions in plain language: they want a roster built to chase a World Series championship. It was a notable message for a fan base that has heard plenty about ambition in recent years, but not always seen it matched with the results on the field.
They also acknowledged the clubs recent performance and said they expect to make significant moves this offseason to improve the team. Pitcher Joe Musgrove has voiced confidence that the new ownership group is serious about winning, and now the real test is whether that conviction turns into the kind of roster changes Padres fans have been waiting for. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Offseason Buzz Now Centers On One Rumor Fans Needed Clarified
As the Padres get deeper into an offseason already defined by payroll questions and roster speculation, one name has surfaced in the chatter: a Yankees outfielder who is expected to hit free agency. The connection has only added to the intrigue around San Diegos plans, especially with talk circulating about the club potentially looking to move money off the books while trying to keep its core competitive.
Manny Machado, though, is not viewed as a realistic trade candidate, even with those larger-contract discussions in the background. Elsewhere on the roster front, Ty France and Freddy Fermin have given the club something more concrete to celebrate, with both standing as Gold Glove finalists and winners set to be announced on Nov. 1. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Fans Wont Like Where San Diego Lands On This MLB List
The Padres have had enough painful October endings over the years to know where they stand in the sports pecking order, and a new look at MLBs longest active World Series droughts only reinforces it. Cleveland and Milwaukee sit near the top of the list, but San Diego is right there among the clubs still chasing a return to the games biggest stage, alongside Seattle and Pittsburgh.
For Padres fans, the ranking is less a trivia item than a reminder of how long the wait has gone on. The franchise has reached the postseason and generated plenty of excitement, but it still remains on the outside looking in when it comes to ending that drought, which is why any list like this tends to land with a little extra sting in San Diego. [Read more 🡒]