The Padres cleared a few spots on the roster with Nick Pivetta on his way back, and the biggest domino was Johny Brito heading to Triple-A El Paso.
That move was all about making room for Pivetta, and it comes at a time when San Diego has little room for error. The Padres are in a 19-game sprint to catch the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third wild card, which makes every inning matter a little more than usual. Brito had his moments during his return to San Diego, but the club is in a stretch where even the softer spots on the schedule feel thin.
San Diego also designated catcher Blake Hunt for assignment. The 27-year-old opened the season on a minor league deal, according to Darragh McDonald of MLBTradeRumors.com, and got a brief look in the majors when Freddy Fermin was hurt. Hunt split catching duties with Rodolfo Duran until Fermin returned, then went back to the minors.
Hunt did reach the big leagues, but the results at the plate were rough: he struck out in all three of his plate appearances. His path with the Padres got even narrower once prospect Ethan Salas was called up, and now Hunt will go through waivers.
Still, he brings a strong minor league track record with a career slash line of .259/.339/.467 in a little more than 1,000 plate appearances. He also posted a .301/.381/.617 line, and McDonald noted that he has a solid reputation for his defense in the minors.
The Padres also parted ways with two right-handers, J.P. France and Jose Leclerc, according to the minor league transaction log.
France joined San Diego in early August after being cut loose by the Astros, but the 31-year-old was hit hard over 10-2/3 innings with El Paso. He does have major league experience with Houston and was once the Astros’ No. 21 prospect, though shoulder injuries have followed him since then and his velocity remains down after surgery in 2024.
Leclerc signed with the Padres in December and was hoping to get his season back on track after missing most of 2025 because of a lat strain that eventually required surgery, per Steve Adams. He was with the A’s when the injury happened, but he threw only nine innings, and the comeback attempt never really got going. Now he’ll be looking for another landing spot.
In Other News...
Padres Mason Miller Trade Feels Different After Troubling Prospect News
The Mason Miller deal already looked like one of the biggest swing-for-the-fences moves of the deadline, but the latest news out of Oakland adds a harsh new layer to it. Leo De Vries, the top prospect the Padres sent away in the trade, is headed for surgery to repair a torn anterior labrum in his right shoulder, a setback that could keep him out as long as eight months and cloud his immediate future as a hitter and defender.
For San Diego, the timing only sharpens the contrast. Miller has settled in as the new closer and has looked every bit the impact arm the Padres hoped they were getting, piling up strikeouts while keeping his ERA down. De Vries' injury does not suggest the Padres traded with this in mind, but it does make the return feel even more uncertain from Oakland's side and gives San Diego more reason to believe it landed the more stable end of the swap. [Read more 🡒]
Padres May Face A Jake Cronenworth Decision In New Ownership Era
The Padres are heading toward the 2026-27 free agency period with a different financial backdrop than the one that shaped so many of their recent roster decisions. With new ownership in place and the possibility of more spending room, San Diego has been mentioned as a team that could shop in a higher tier if it chooses, and CBS Sports Mike Axisa pointed to Jazz Chisholm Jr. as a possible fit. Chisholm brings power, speed and defense, the kind of versatile profile that can draw attention from clubs looking to reshape the middle of the diamond.
For the Padres, the conversation naturally circles back to Jake Cronenworth and whether they want to keep building around him or look elsewhere if the market opens up. A player like Chisholm would give San Diego an intriguing alternative, especially if the club decides it wants more athleticism and a different kind of impact in the infield. The decision is still a long way off, but the new ownership era has already changed the way these possibilities are being discussed. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Face Costly Adrian Morejon Decision This Offseason
Adrian Morejon has quietly become one of the more important arms in the Padres bullpen, giving San Diego another reliable leverage option in a season when every dependable relief inning has mattered. With his performance metrics pointing to a strong year, he is putting himself in position for a significant payday once the offseason arrives, and that creates an immediate decision for a front office that has already had plenty to juggle.
Morejon is set to reach free agency, and the market for top relievers has a way of moving quickly when a pitcher can handle big moments and miss bats. The Padres could try to protect themselves with a qualifying offer, a move that would give them a path to draft-pick compensation if he leaves, but it could also shape how aggressive other teams are willing to be once bidding begins. [Read more 🡒]