The San Diego Padres may have thinned out their upper-level prospect inventory, but the pipeline is not empty.
That’s the takeaway from AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, who dug into the organization’s system after catcher Ethan Salas climbed into the big league picture and reopened the obvious question: who’s next?
At the top of the list is right-hander Tucker Musgrove, the only top-ten Padres prospect Cassavell identified as someone who could help next year. Musgrove’s bat-missing ability jumps off the page - 68 strikeouts in 34-1/3 innings - but the issue holding him back is control. If he can clean up the walks, he could become another electric piece for an already strong Padres bullpen.
The other arm drawing attention is Winyer Chourio. He, too, had some trouble adjusting after moving from Single-A to High-A, but the raw results at Lake Elsinore were encouraging.
Chourio posted a 3.31 ERA while striking out 74 hitters in 51-2/3 innings, and the early read is that he may ultimately fit in the bullpen. Still, the stuff is real for the Venezuelan prospect.
There’s also intrigue in the outfield with Ryan Wideman, whose tools have long stood out. The hurdle now is contact.
In his first pro season, Wideman hit .314/.389/.504 at Single-A Lake Elsinore, then ran into tougher going at High-A Fort Wayne. That kind of jump can expose young hitters, but Wideman adds another layer with his speed and defense in center field.
He stole 65 bases, which tells you how much pressure he can put on a game once he gets on.
Among the breakout names, shortstop Elliot Lascelles made one of the loudest jumps. He came from well off the radar to hit .321 with an .835 OPS at Lake Elsinore, and the Canadian native has earned praise for his plate approach and ability to put the bat on the ball.
Right-hander Lan-Hong Su is another name worth tracking. Signed out of Taiwan, Su had to work through a rough start at Lake Elsinore, but he still finished with a 3.22 ERA and struck out 40 of the 91 hitters he faced. That kind of strikeout rate has the Padres excited about where he might go from here.
The larger picture, though, is that nothing in this system feels completely untouchable. Cassavell pointed out that A.J. Preller will be back in the GM meetings in November hunting for more options, and he noted that Preller had opportunities to deal Musgrove and No. 2 prospect Kruz Schoolcraft this summer.
There’s “a method to his madness,” per Cassavell, and with the new ownership group directly involved this time, what Preller does next with those arms will be one of the more interesting Padres storylines to watch.
In Other News...
Padres Should Let Tucker Musgrove Decide Their Next Bullpen Move
Tucker Musgroves 2026 season gave the Padres a real reason to pause before rushing to add another veteran arm. In 34 1/3 innings, he piled up 68 strikeouts, which is the kind of swing-and-miss stuff teams covet from the middle innings, even if the command still needs work. For San Diego, the question is not whether the talent is there, but whether the organization should let that talent breathe a little longer before cluttering the bullpen picture.
Musgroves walk issues make the next step less about projections and more about opportunity. Before the Padres chase another experienced reliever, they should see whether he can sharpen his command and force his way into the 2027 mix on merit. A clear chance to compete for a bullpen role would tell the club a lot about where he stands, and it might save them from buying insurance before they know what they already have. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Roster Picture Is Changing Faster Than Fans Realize
The Padres roster picture is already shifting around the edges, and Ethan Salas remains one of the biggest reasons why. The youngest catcher ever to appear in a postseason game is expected to see more action in San Diego by 2027, even with plenty of competition at his position. For a club that has spent plenty of time balancing short-term contention with long-term development, Salas continues to stand out as a name fans should keep tracking.
He is not the only minor leaguer who could matter soon. Gutierrez has put himself into the conversation as another potential piece for next season, while Hawkins could end up in a bullpen role if departures open the door. The Padres have been evaluating recent performances closely, and the next wave of internal options may arrive faster than many around the team realize. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Face Tricky Offseason Call On Proven Starter After Contract Twist
Nick Pivettas future with San Diego just got a little more complicated, and the timing could hardly be worse for a Padres front office already weighing a busy offseason. His player option for 2027 converted into a $14 million club option after he spent more than 130 days on the injured list with an elbow injury, turning what had looked like a straightforward contract situation into another decision point for A.J. Preller and the clubs decision-makers.
The part that makes it tricky is that Pivetta was effective when he did take the mound in 2026, giving the Padres enough reason to believe in his value even as his health remains a real question. With payroll and pitching depth both under pressure, San Diego now has to sort through whether to bring him back on that price tag while the rest of its free-agency picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]