The Padres have plenty on their offseason plate, but the outfield has become one of the clearest places to start. San Diego got hit hard by injuries in 2026, and the lack of production in left field became impossible to ignore.
Ramon Laureano and Luis Rengifo both went down with season-ending injuries, while Gavin Sheets was never really at full strength. Even Samad Taylor, who hit .316 in the role, couldn’t stay healthy while trying to cover the corner outfield spot. That kind of churn left the Padres searching for stability, and one name has now surfaced as a possible answer.
According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as a potential trade partner. Nightengale reported that Philadelphia is looking to shake up its roster and is in need of help at third base and in left field.
“The Phillies, who are in desperate need for a third baseman and left fielder, badly want to shake things up, and that requires more than just firing a few of their coaches,” Nightengale wrote. “Brandon Marsh and Trea Turner are available, but Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are staying put.”
Marsh would bring a real offensive track record to the table. The left fielder made his first All-Star team in 2026 and posted career highs with 18 home runs and 62 RBIs. He surged in the first half, earned the nod, and then faded after the break, a second-half drop that stands out because it doesn’t match his usual post-All-Star production over six seasons in the majors.
The fit also lines up with what Dennis Lin of The Athletic recently reported about San Diego’s plans in the grass for 2027. Lin wrote that the Padres could move Fernando Tatis Jr. to second base on more of a full-time basis in order to create room for “the addition of an above-average corner outfielder.”
Tatis has said before that he prefers playing in the dirt, so a move like that would make sense if San Diego lands a player of Marsh’s caliber. Jake Cronenworth is viewed as a trade piece, though he also has 266 appearances at first base over his seven seasons, which could help if the Padres need another option there after Ty France left in free agency.
In Other News...
Padres Take A Flier On A Pitcher With Something To Prove
The Padres are taking a low-cost look at Ryan Weiss, a right-hander who has already had to navigate the churn of a difficult season and a change of scenery. Houston designated him for assignment in June after a rough stretch in the majors, but he stayed on the radar by finishing the 2026 season on a stronger note at Triple-A with Sugar Land, the kind of rebound that can keep a pitcher in the conversation even after the big league numbers have gone sideways.
Now San Diego has given Weiss a one-year deal with an option for 2028, a structure that suggests the club sees more than just a temporary arm for the depth chart. For Weiss, it is another chance to turn that late-season momentum into something more lasting, and for the Padres it is the sort of under-the-radar pitching bet that can pay off if the stuff and the results finally line up at the right time. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Interest In Shota Imanaga Comes With One Clear Concern
Shota Imanaga has surfaced as a possible free-agent fit for the Padres, and the appeal is easy to see. He gave the Cubs 174 1/3 innings in 2026 with a 3.77 ERA, giving Chicago a durable left-hander who could take the ball regularly and stabilize a rotation. For San Diego, a pitcher with that kind of track record naturally draws attention, especially with the club always looking for reliable innings without sacrificing upside.
The concern is just as obvious, though, because Imanaga also allowed a troubling number of home runs. That is where Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla enters the conversation, since the club would likely believe he could help refine Imanagas pitch mix and make him more effective deeper into games. The fit makes sense on paper, but the question is whether San Diego thinks it can clean up the one flaw that could determine how well the rest of his game translates. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Got An Encouraging Early Sign On Craig Stammen
Craig Stammens first season in charge of the Padres brought an encouraging bit of recognition beyond the standings, as he finished fourth in National League Manager of the Year voting. The first-year San Diego skipper picked up two first-place votes and 24 total points, a notable showing in a field led by Milwaukees Pat Murphy, who won the award for the third straight season.
For a club that handed the dugout to Stammen after Mike Shildt, the vote offers an early sign that his work is already being noticed around the league. Manager of the Year ballots do not decide a season, of course, but they do reflect how quickly a new voice can earn respect, and Stammens debut in San Diego clearly made an impression. [Read more 🡒]