The Padres have a clean way to address second base without forcing Fernando Tatis Jr. out of right field, and it starts with keeping the current setup intact until they find the right bat elsewhere.
Moving Tatis to second is a tempting offseason idea, but the move only makes sense if San Diego can solve right field first. Until that happens, the safer play is to leave Tatis where he’s already shown he can impact games and look at other options to upgrade the lineup.
One name worth watching is Jazz Chisholm Jr. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the Padres have discussed Chisholm internally.
That’s the extent of the reporting, but it’s enough to take the fit seriously. Chisholm played second base full time for the Yankees in 2026, and bringing him in would let the Padres improve the infield while keeping Tatis in a spot he’s already handled well.
That also gives San Diego a more direct path to adding left-handed offense. The Padres hit just .384 from the left side in 2026, which ranked 23rd in baseball.
Chisholm, even in a down year, still produced 19 home runs and 41 stolen bases. He hit .231/.312/.399, so any price tag should be based on that version of the player, not the 30-30 ceiling.
A move like that would also force a decision the Padres may need to make anyway. Jake Cronenworth has four years left on his deal and is coming off a replacement-level season.
If Ty France signs elsewhere, Cronenworth could get time at first base, while San Diego still looks for another bat there. A long contract only matters if the team finds the best place for the player to help.
Even with the infield in focus, the rotation remains the first priority for the money. Michael King opted out, the Padres declined Nick Pivetta’s option, and there are plenty of innings to replace.
Chisholm makes sense if the price leaves room for that work, especially since there’s no qualifying-offer draft-pick penalty attached to him. The dollars still have to line up.
In Other News...
Mets First Base Search Just Took An Interesting Turn
The Mets search for help at first base has started to widen, and Ty France has surfaced as a name worth watching. After a strong recent season with the Padres, France is being mentioned as part of New Yorks offseason plans as the club looks to shore up a position that needs a clearer answer. He is being considered alongside Alec Bohm, which gives the Mets a couple of different directions to explore as they sort through the market.
Frances appeal is obvious enough from a Padres perspective, since his recent production showed the kind of steady bat that can fit into a lineup without much fuss. The question for New York is whether that level of output is sustainable and whether the fit justifies the risk, especially with first base being one of the spots they want to address decisively. For now, France is simply one of the more interesting names in the mix, but his market could say plenty about how aggressive the Mets plan to be. [Read more 🡒]
Former A's Outfielder Is Fighting For Another Shot
The Padres have added a pair of outfielders on minor league deals in Kala'i Rosario and Cal Stevenson, a move that gives the organization a little more cover as it looks ahead to possible openings in the outfield and at first base. Stevenson brings big league experience with multiple clubs, which gives San Diego at least one familiar name to plug into the upper levels of the system.
Stevenson is expected to battle for a corner outfield job with Triple-A El Paso next spring, a spot that could put him back in the conversation if he performs well. For a Padres club trying to keep its depth chart flexible, these kinds of low-risk additions can matter, especially when the roster picture is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Suddenly Have Trade Leverage In One Spot That Really Matters
The Padres have found themselves with an unusual bit of leverage this winter, and it comes in a place where they can actually use it. According to MLB.coms AJ Cassavell, San Diego is drawing trade interest in catchers Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano during the GM Meetings, giving the club a potential path to address another area of need while sorting through a crowded depth chart behind the plate.
Ethan Salas, who debuted in September, is expected to compete for more playing time, which only adds to the sense that the Padres may not be able to keep everyone in the same lane. With rotation help among the priorities, San Diego is weighing whether moving one of its catchers could bring back the kind of return it needs, and the conversations now are centered on what that package should look like. [Read more 🡒]