The Padres are heading toward the 2026-2027 free agency period with a new owner and, at least in theory, more money to work with. That opens the door to a bigger swing or two, and while the rotation sits near the top of the list of needs, the rest of the roster can’t be ignored.
One name already tied to San Diego is Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Mike Axisa of CBS Sports put the Padres on a short list of possible landing spots for the Yankees infielder, who brings a rare mix of power, speed and defensive value to the market. Axisa wrote, "Prime-aged middle infielders who can hit for power, steal bases, and defend at a high level are in short supply. Chisholm is the only one who meets the criteria in the free agent class," and added, "Super early possible landing spots: Padres, Rangers."
At first glance, the fit isn’t perfect. San Diego already has major money committed to Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado, so infield help isn’t exactly the most obvious problem on the roster. But if the Padres decide to move on from Jake Cronenworth, Chisholm starts to make a lot more sense as a long-term option at second base.
The age fits, too. Chisholm is only 28, and his production has been steady.
He finished with 2.9 bWAR in 2024, then followed that with 4.1 bWAR in 2025. This year, in 134 games, he has 1.5 bWAR and strong overall numbers.
The speed jumps off the page. Chisholm has 40 stolen bases this season, the most in the American League, and he’s added a .715 OPS with 19 home runs. That isn’t eye-popping offense, but his career .760 OPS gives teams reason to believe there’s still more there.
He’s already been an All-Star twice, and the appeal is obvious: power, speed and solid defense from a prime-aged middle infielder. If the Padres can clear the path by moving on from Cronenworth, Chisholm would be the kind of addition that could make sense for AJ Preller and the new ownership group right away.
In Other News...
Padres Mason Miller Trade Feels Different After Troubling Prospect News
The Mason Miller deal already looked like one of the biggest swing-for-the-fences moves of the deadline, but the latest news out of Oakland adds a harsh new layer to it. Leo De Vries, the top prospect the Padres sent away in the trade, is headed for surgery to repair a torn anterior labrum in his right shoulder, a setback that could keep him out as long as eight months and cloud his immediate future as a hitter and defender.
For San Diego, the timing only sharpens the contrast. Miller has settled in as the new closer and has looked every bit the impact arm the Padres hoped they were getting, piling up strikeouts while keeping his ERA down. De Vries' injury does not suggest the Padres traded with this in mind, but it does make the return feel even more uncertain from Oakland's side and gives San Diego more reason to believe it landed the more stable end of the swap. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Face Costly Adrian Morejon Decision This Offseason
Adrian Morejon has quietly become one of the more important arms in the Padres bullpen, giving San Diego another reliable leverage option in a season when every dependable relief inning has mattered. With his performance metrics pointing to a strong year, he is putting himself in position for a significant payday once the offseason arrives, and that creates an immediate decision for a front office that has already had plenty to juggle.
Morejon is set to reach free agency, and the market for top relievers has a way of moving quickly when a pitcher can handle big moments and miss bats. The Padres could try to protect themselves with a qualifying offer, a move that would give them a path to draft-pick compensation if he leaves, but it could also shape how aggressive other teams are willing to be once bidding begins. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Are Leaning Hard On Adrian Morejon At The Worst Time
Adrian Morejon has quietly become one of the most important arms in the Padres bullpen, and the timing could hardly be trickier. Even with a career-high workload, he has kept producing, mixing a sinker and changeup that have helped stabilize late innings for a club trying to stay in the postseason race. His latest save came in a 5-4 rally win, another reminder of how often San Diego has been leaning on him when the game gets tight.
The numbers have backed up the eye test, too, with Morejon carrying a 2.86 ERA and missing bats at a healthy rate while taking on more responsibility. The question now is less about whether he can handle a big role and more about how much the Padres can keep asking before the strain starts to show. [Read more 🡒]