The Padres are staring at another offseason with the same glaring issue hanging over the whole operation: starting pitching. That’s the reason ESPN slid San Diego from No. 7 to No. 21 in its early 2027 power rankings, a drop of 14 spots that feels sharp on the surface but starts to make sense the moment you look at the roster.
This isn’t a team being punished for a bad year. The Padres won 91 games.
That should count for something. But the rotation is thin enough that the questions practically answer themselves, and ESPN’s ranking reflects that reality more than any disrespect toward the club’s regular season.
Michael King sits at the center of the conversation, even though the situation isn’t really on him. He just turned in a spectacular season, then had player options worth $28 million for 2027 and $30 million for 2028. With that kind of year behind him, he could chase a nine-figure deal in free agency, and that’s exactly what he’s chosen to do.
Once a starter walks out the door, the ripple effect is immediate. The Padres have another opening to fill, and suddenly every dollar and every trade chip has to be aimed at the rotation before anything else can happen.
ESPN’s read on what remains only deepens the concern. Randy Vásquez is projected to lead the returning group, with Joe Musgrove also in the mix after last making a regular-season start in 2024.
There’s a sentimental pull there, and there should be. Musgrove means a lot to this franchise.
But that doesn’t change the reality of asking so much from a pitcher coming back after that long of an absence.
The issues don’t stop there. Ty France, the team’s OPS leader, is also headed for free agency.
Two important relievers could leave as well. The farm system offers little help.
And ESPN is also pointing to Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts entering their age-34 seasons after what some can say was their worst offensive seasons.
That’s where the Padres have to hope for a bounce-back from their veterans while also making sure the roster doesn’t collapse if those rebounds take time. Machado and Bogaerts are paid and positioned to carry a lot, but no lineup is built to survive on star power alone, especially when the supporting cast thins out.
So yes, the 21st-place ranking can be debated. But the bigger issue is harder to dismiss. The Padres keep running into the same offseason assignment, and this time the work is obvious: give King a reason to stay, replace the offense if France is gone, and finally find enough pitching to make the rest of the roster fit.
In Other News...
Padres Cant Afford To Move Jeremiah Estrada For Just Anything
The Padres have spent plenty of time looking for ways to juice an offense that can too often leave the pitching staff carrying the load, and Jeremiah Estrada has emerged as one of the more interesting chips in that conversation. The right-hander has given San Diego value out of the bullpen, but the idea of moving him has real appeal only if it helps land an everyday bat who can make a lineup upgrade feel lasting rather than cosmetic.
Estrada is not the kind of arm the Padres should move simply to check off a need. His recent performance, injury background and contract situation all make him a meaningful piece of the roster, which means any deal would have to bring back substantial offensive help. San Diego can talk itself into bullpen depth later, but if it turns Estrada into a trade, the return has to reflect how hard it is to replace a reliable reliever and how badly the lineup could use a difference-maker. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Just Made A Pitching Staff Move Padres Fans Will Notice
The Padres are losing a familiar voice in their pitching room, as Ben Fritz has agreed to become the Diamondbacks lead pitching coach after spending the past decade in San Diego. Fritz had been the clubs bullpen coach since 2015 and joined the major-league staff in 2020, making him one of the more established holdovers around a staff that has gone through plenty of turnover over the years.
Fritz also drew interest elsewhere, including an interview with the Rockies, before taking Arizonas offer, which makes the move stand out even more for a Padres team trying to keep continuity in place. Manager Craig Stammen praised Fritzs impact on the bullpen and said he hopes most of the coaching staff returns next season, but this is still a notable change for a group that has leaned on Fritzs presence for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Rotation Need Just Got More Complicated In Free Agency
The Padres offseason already had enough moving parts, and the rotation picture only got murkier once the free-agent market opened. San Diego lost 10 players to free agency, including Michael King after he opted out of his contract, leaving the club with a clear need to reshape the pitching staff before next season.
Robbie Ray adds another layer to the uncertainty. Acquired in midseason, the veteran left-hander is now a free agent himself, and one projection has him landing a two-year, $45 million deal. His stint in San Diego did not meet expectations, which only strengthens the sense that the Padres could look elsewhere for rotation help rather than banking on a reunion. [Read more 🡒]