The Padres came up short of their goal in the National League Division Series, but the offseason gives them a fresh chance to reshape a roster that still looks dangerous. The questions are already stacking up, and they start with whether San Diego makes a real run at more help in the outfield and on the mound.
One name that has surfaced is Steven Kwan. San Diego was recently linked to the Cleveland Guardians All-Star outfielder, and the fit is easy enough to see given that the outfield has looked like the least deep area on the roster.
Fansided’s Robert Murray wrote, "It’s entirely possible that the Guardians will listen on Steven Kwan in the winter with the star outfielder scheduled for free agency after the 2027 season," and added, "The Padres have shown past interest in Kwan, and [president of baseball operations AJ] Preller loves star players. Perhaps that is something that the organization could revisit, with Kwan ranking sixth in baseball in fWAR from June 30 to the end of the season."
Outfield help is only part of the puzzle, though. The Padres also face a long list of contract calls this winter, and Padres On SI laid out the major decisions sitting in front of the front office. San Diego has made a habit of trying to trim payroll while spending as efficiently as possible, so those choices matter.
The rotation is another area that could use a jolt. The Padres were in the mix for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the pursuit could come back around now that he’ll be a free agent at season’s end.
The reigning two-time Cy Young award winner posted a 2.79 ERA this season before the trade, then turned in a 2.61 mark in 10 starts with the Dodgers. On the year, he struck out 186 batters against just 27 walks.
A pitcher like Skubal would do more than strengthen the rotation. He could also take some pressure off a bullpen that worked far too much. Because San Diego’s starters didn’t go as deep as planned and didn’t provide the level of production the team needed, the relief corps logged the second-most innings in MLB with a 3.31 ERA, and the most in the National League.
That leaves the Padres with a clear offseason checklist: explore a blockbuster outfield move, sort through the contract landscape, and see whether a serious chase for Skubal makes sense if he reaches free agency.
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Salas profile took on even more significance when he became the youngest catcher in MLB history to start a postseason game during the 2026 Wild Card Series. For a club that has leaned heavily on homegrown talent to keep its window open, that kind of experience at such an early stage matters. Jesus A. Castro also earned Pitching Prospect of the Year honors after his work with Single-A Lake Elsinore, but it is Salas who looks increasingly like the prospect the Padres can build around for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]