The Padres are drawing interest on both of their catchers, Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano, and San Diego is expected to move one of them this offseason, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
That possibility comes with Ethan Salas rising fast enough to change the whole picture behind the plate. Salas, who has a case as the #1 prospect in baseball, made a late-season debut at age 20 and could be the franchise catcher.
There’s also a real chance he breaks camp, since the Padres trusted him enough to start three postseason games. The scouting reports are strong across the board: defensive tools, leadership, and game-calling all draw praise.
Offensively, he posted a .296/.374/.448 line against older competition between the top two minor league levels.
With Salas on the way, one of the veterans becomes more available. Fermin is the glove-first option.
He hit .203/.274/.315 in 96 games this year, and the bat likely doesn’t play enough for him to be a No. 1 catcher on a contender. Still, he brings plenty of value in the dirt.
He’s an above-average pitch framer, an elite blocker, and one of the best catch-and-throw backstops in the league. He’s also earned a reputation as a steady leader for pitching staffs in Kansas City and San Diego.
Campusano offers a different kind of appeal. Early in his career, he graded as one of the worst defensive catchers in the league, but the Padres kept him in the minors for most of the 2025 season.
Because that was his final option year, he needed to remain in the majors this past season. He did enough to stay, batting .265/.363/.433 with eight homers in 248 plate appearances.
He started 51 games behind the plate and 10 at designated hitter. His work with the running game was excellent, though he still rated as a below-average pitch framer and remained only fringy as a blocker, even with improvement.
San Diego does not have to force anything. Fermin still has two minor league options left, and Campusano’s bat gives him a path to more DH work.
Even so, the Padres have reason to see what either catcher might bring back, especially if a deal could land a potential back-end starter. Both are in their arbitration window.
Campusano is under control for two more seasons and is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a $1.7MM salary. Fermin is projected at $2.6MM and has three years of club control, provided he doesn’t spend essentially an entire season optioned to the minors.
Around the league, the catching market has plenty of teams looking. The Yankees want a right-handed hitting catcher to pair with Austin Wells.
Texas, Minnesota and the A’s each currently have only one catcher on their 40-man rosters - Danny Jansen, Victor Caratini and Shea Langeliers, respectively. The Twins are trying to re-sign Ryan Jeffers, but would have to pivot if he signs elsewhere.
Cincinnati needs to replace free agent Tyler Stephenson if he doesn’t return. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reported this morning that the Marlins were in the backup catching market, and that also applies to the Phillies and could extend to the Guardians, Astros, Angels, Nationals, White Sox, Giants, Red Sox and Cubs to varying degrees.
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