Bradgley Rodriguez is giving Padres fans something new to notice this offseason, and it has nothing to do with what he did on the mound.
Tattoo artist Jorge Rosales posted Instagram footage of Rodriguez getting a full arm sleeve, with the timing coming just days after San Diego’s playoff run ended against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Padres were knocked out of the National League Division Series after a 3-1 loss in Game 4 on October 7. San Diego had stayed alive with a Game 3 win, but Milwaukee answered with another close victory to punch its ticket to the NL Championship Series.
Rodriguez, 22, has already established himself as a useful piece out of the bullpen. He reached the majors in 2025 and earned a spot on the Padres’ staff for the 2026 season. During the regular season, the right-hander posted a 2.19 ERA with 81 strikeouts over 74 innings, according to MLB’s statistics.
He also got into the action when the games mattered most. Across five postseason outings, Rodriguez worked 5.2 innings and logged a 1.59 ERA with seven strikeouts.
For a young pitcher, that kind of exposure in October matters. It gave him a taste of high-leverage baseball and added to his profile as one of San Diego’s arms to keep an eye on.
The new tattoo won’t affect his role when spring training rolls around, but it does offer a little offseason window into life away from the field. The footage showed the process of finishing the sleeve, a side of Rodriguez that fans usually don’t get to see while he’s busy trying to retire big-league hitters.
In Other News...
Padres Offseason Push Starts With One Roster Problem They Can't Ignore
The Padres are heading into the winter with plenty to sort through after a strong late-season push ended with a National League Division Series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. The bigger issue now is less about what went wrong in October and more about how much of the core that got them there can actually be preserved, especially with important rotation pieces nearing free agency or tied to decisions that could reshape the staff.
San Diego also has to think beyond the starting five, because the roster needs help in the outfield and the bullpen has its own looming questions. Keeping the relief group intact would go a long way toward maintaining one of the clubs biggest strengths, but that kind of continuity is rarely simple in an offseason like this, when the Padres are trying to protect both depth and upside at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Enter Crucial First Offseason Under Owners Facing Immediate Pressure
Jos E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones are now officially in charge of the Padres after MLBs unanimous approval of their $3.9 billion purchase, ending the Seidler familys ownership run and putting the franchise into a new era with immediate expectations attached. The new group has already pledged to keep investing in the club and maintaining the organizations community focus, a reassuring message for a fan base that has grown used to ambition at the top.
The timing, though, makes this a far more demanding handoff than a standard changeover. San Diego has just come out of the 2026 postseason and now heads into an offseason loaded with roster uncertainty, from looming free-agent decisions to the question of how Joe Musgrove fits as he comes back from injury. For owners who arrive with pressure already baked in, the first winter is rarely about patience, and this one could set the tone for everything that follows. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Suddenly Face A Michael King Question They Didn't Want
Michael Kings first season in San Diego gave the Padres exactly what they hoped for when they brought him in, but it also created a new layer of uncertainty they would rather not be dealing with this soon. After finishing a strong year and helping anchor the staff, King was asked about the possibility of opting out of his contract this winter, a topic that naturally follows when a pitcher boosts his value the way he did.
For the Padres, the issue is less about the question itself than what it could mean down the road. King is heading into a pivotal offseason consideration, and if he chooses to test the market, he could quickly become one of the more desirable free-agent arms available. San Diego would prefer the conversation stay focused on continuity, but the fact that it has to have this conversation at all is a reminder that a good season can sometimes complicate the future. [Read more 🡒]
