Heading into 2025, the Padres looked like a team without many soft spots. With a star-studded core featuring Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and rising talent Jackson Merrill, the lineup seemed built to do serious damage. But as baseball tends to remind us, even the most loaded rosters can hit unexpected bumps.
One of those came early when Merrill went down with an injury in April. At the same time, Bogaerts couldn’t seem to find his rhythm at the plate during the first half. Suddenly, a lineup that looked airtight had a few cracks-and the Padres needed someone to step up.
Gavin Sheets provided a spark early on, catching fire out of the gate and giving San Diego some much-needed production. But that hot streak cooled off around the All-Star break, and the Padres were left searching for more consistency, particularly in the outfield.
That’s where Ramón Laureano came in-and quietly became one of the more important additions of the season.
At the time of the trade with the Orioles, Laureano wasn’t even the headline piece. The Padres were targeting Ryan O’Hearn as an impact bat, and Laureano was viewed more as a complementary piece.
But baseball has a way of flipping expectations. While O’Hearn brought value, it was Laureano who emerged as the difference-maker.
In the second half, Laureano gave the Padres exactly what they needed: stability and production in left field. He posted a .269/.323/.489 slash line, drove in 30 runs, and brought a level of consistency that had been missing. For a team that had been shuffling options in left early in the year, Laureano’s presence was a game-changer.
Now 31, Laureano had his $6.5 million club option picked up for the 2026 season-a move that signals just how much the Padres value what he brings to the table. It’s a win-win: San Diego gets a full season of a player who proved he can be an everyday contributor, and Laureano gets a chance to play for his next contract.
For a team that underwent plenty of change this offseason, having Laureano locked in brings a level of comfort. He’s not just a glove in the outfield-he’s a bat that can lengthen the lineup, a veteran presence who knows how to grind through a season, and a player who clearly fits the Padres’ competitive timeline.
As the Padres look ahead to 2026, they do so knowing they’ve got a reliable piece in Laureano, ready to build on a strong finish and prove he’s more than just a midseason pickup-he’s part of the foundation.