The San Diego Padres are still feeling the sting of losing Dylan Cease, and with Spring Training fast approaching, the rotation has a noticeable hole. Framber Valdez was on their radar, but his price tag proved too steep for a team currently operating under tight financial constraints. So now, the Padres are looking for a more budget-friendly option to round out the back end of their pitching staff-and one name that’s emerging is a familiar one: Justin Verlander.
Verlander, a three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer, spent last season just up the coast with the San Francisco Giants. Now, there’s growing speculation that he could be heading south to San Diego as a potential low-cost, short-term solution. And while the Padres’ long-term plan clearly involves getting younger and building around their core, Verlander could offer immediate stability in a rotation that needs it.
Let’s be clear: this wouldn’t be a splashy, franchise-altering move. It would be a calculated one-year investment in a veteran presence who can eat innings and bring leadership to a young clubhouse. With the Padres’ financial flexibility limited this offseason-especially after locking in Michael King with an extension-this type of move fits the bill.
Verlander’s 2025 campaign was a tale of two halves. He struggled out of the gate, finishing with a 4-11 record, a 3.85 ERA, 137 strikeouts, and a 1.362 WHIP over 152 innings.
But the second half of the season told a different story. He settled in and posted a 2.60 ERA, showing he still has something left in the tank when healthy and in rhythm.
That second-half resurgence is what makes him an intriguing option for San Diego. At this stage in his career, Verlander isn’t being asked to carry a rotation-he’d likely slot in as the No. 5 starter. And at a projected one-year, $7.8 million deal, he’s a manageable addition for a team that’s trying to stay competitive without breaking the bank.
There’s no doubt the Padres need to act soon. With pitchers and catchers reporting shortly, the clock is ticking. Verlander may not be the long-term answer, but he could be the right short-term piece to help stabilize the rotation and buy the front office time to develop or acquire younger arms.
For a team trying to stay afloat in a tough NL West while navigating financial limitations, this kind of veteran stopgap could be exactly what the Padres need.