The future of the San Diego Padres has become uncertain following their failure to land Roki Sasaki, a highly sought-after talent. With a payroll already weighing heavily on their books, the team is considering significant moves to alleviate some of their financial commitments for 2025, and may even look into trading some of their star players to free up room for more cost-effective talent, as reported by Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Despite a relatively quiet offseason so far, the Padres have around $194 million already committed to player salaries, according to Spotrac. Some of their key contributors from 2024, such as Jurickson Profar and Tanner Scott, are still unsigned free agents, leaving significant gaps in their roster.
The team’s financial situation is complicated by several massive long-term contracts. Infielder Xander Bogaerts, who signed a deal that guarantees him $25 million annually through 2033, is one such high-cost player. Additionally, Manny Machado is tied to a nine-year contract worth more than $300 million, and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year, $340 million contract runs through 2034. Although Tatis is still only 26 and could be seen as a bargain despite two down seasons, moving Machado or Bogaerts would prove difficult, given their age (both are 32) and substantial salaries.
The pitching staff is also a concern for the Padres. Veteran Yu Darvish, at 38 years old, is still owed $67 million over the next four years, and Joe Musgrove, who was expected to contribute significantly, will make $20 million in 2025. However, he is anticipated to miss the entire season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
In addition to these challenges, the Padres have pressing holes to fill in left field and their bullpen, with potential departures of Profar and Scott leaving gaps. These difficulties are exacerbated by the fact that the Padres will need to contend with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the powerhouse of the NL West, who have made a series of strong moves this offseason, including adding Sasaki, Blake Snell, and re-signing Teoscar Hernández.
After a strong 93-win season in 2024, the Padres’ future is far from certain. They will need to navigate these financial hurdles and potential roster changes if they hope to stay competitive in the tough NL West. The path forward remains unclear, but the team is clearly at a crossroads, needing to balance long-term financial commitments with immediate roster needs to remain a contender.
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