The Padres’ offseason has already taken a hit on the coaching side, with one of their pitching coaches leaving for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. The coach had spent more than a decade in the organization and had been working at the big-league level since 2020, and now he’ll be running the pitching staff for a division rival in the desert.
While that departure grabbed attention, contract chatter around two left-handed pitchers has also put San Diego back in the spotlight. Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden of The Athletic weighed in on Adrian Morejon and Robbie Ray, and both names came with notable projections.
Morejon, who is 27, was described by Bowden as one of the offseason’s biggest potential signings because of his age and talent. Bowden pointed to the way Morejon has handled high-leverage work in San Diego, writing, "Morejon has been one of the best high-leverage multi-inning relievers in the sport the past couple of years. While he hasn’t regularly held the closer role in San Diego, he is clearly capable of being a lockdown closer."
Bowden also laid out the numbers behind that view, citing Morejon’s 93rd percentile ranking in pitching run value, 91st percentile in fastball run value and 95th percentile in offspeed run value in 2026. He added that Morejon also ranked in the 98th percentile in ground-ball rate and 99th percentile in xERA, with a changeup that held opposing hitters to a .156 average.
Ray’s situation is different, but Bowden still projected a strong market for him. The left-hander struggled after being acquired by the Padres at the trade deadline, yet his overall body of work still gives him value heading into free agency.
Bowden wrote, "Ray had a 3.59 ERA in 182 1/3 innings for the Giants in 2025, his first full season back after 2023 Tommy John surgery. He followed that up this year by posting a 3.08 ERA in 122 2/3 innings for the Giants before being traded to the Padres at the deadline," Bowden wrote.
A reunion with San Diego does not appear likely, but the rotation remains an area the Padres will need to address before the 2027 season. If the price is right, Ray could still end up as a candidate for a second look in San Diego after a rough finish to his first run there.
In Other News...
Padres Just Put A Huge Adrian Morejon Decision In Play
The Padres have put Adrian Morejon in a familiar but meaningful spot by extending him a qualifying offer, a one-year deal worth $23.15 million. It is one of the more notable decisions on the clubs offseason board, especially for a left-hander who has settled into an important relief role and now has a clear financial fork in the road.
Morejon is one of eight players around the league to receive that kind of offer before the Nov. 17 deadline to accept or reject it, and the choice carries real weight for both sides. For San Diego, it keeps the door open on a pitcher who has become part of the late-inning picture, while also leaving his next move and long-term future very much in play. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Face A Tough Ramon Laureano Decision In Left Field
The Padres have a busy winter ahead, and the left-field picture is part of it. Along with decisions on Michael King, Adrian Morejon, Walker Buehler and Nick Pivetta, the club also has to sort out what to do with Ramon Laureano, who gave them a useful option in the outfield before undergoing hip surgery.
Laureano is expected to look for a one-year deal, which could make him a fit for a team trying to preserve flexibility while keeping the roster competitive. San Diego also has younger alternatives in Samad Taylor and Dustin Harris if it decides to take a different path, so the choice in left field may come down to how much certainty the Padres want versus how much room they want to leave themselves for the rest of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Suddenly Face A Costly Michael King Decision
The Padres are already staring at another winter of roster churn after losing four players to free agency, including three pitchers and an infielder, and the pressure on the front office is only rising. One of the biggest names in that mix is right-hander Michael King, who has emerged as a key free agent after a strong run in San Diego and has made it clear he would like to stay put.
For a club that has spent plenty of time trying to stabilize its pitching staff, keeping King would go a long way toward preserving some continuity. There is at least one bit of good news on that front: left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui has opted not to exercise his out clause and will remain with the Padres for 2027, with a player option for 2028. Even so, King's situation looms as one of the more important decisions in the Padres' offseason. [Read more 🡒]