It’s always meaningful to honor and celebrate the legendary players who helped elevate an organization. Even more exciting is the opportunity to bring those retired stars into the daily operations of the team. The Padres have now done just that by adding another former great to their staff. On Thursday, San Diego announced in a press release that Jake Peavy will join the team as a Special Assistant to the CEO.
Peavy, a Padres Hall of Famer and Cy Young Award winner, will report to Erik Greupner and work across multiple departments, acting as an ambassador for the organization. As one of the franchise’s all-time greatest players, bringing Peavy back into the fold is a smart move that adds to the Padres’ legacy.
Peavy is one of only five pitchers in Padres history to win the prestigious Cy Young Award. In 2007, he dominated the league, becoming the first Padre since Mark Davis in 1989 to claim the honor. That year, Peavy won the pitching Triple Crown, with 19 wins, 240 strikeouts, and a 2.54 ERA.
Peavy spent eight seasons with the Padres, recording a 3.29 ERA and earning two All-Star selections. He is tied with Randy Jones for the second-most wins in franchise history, with 92, and holds the all-time Padres record for strikeouts with 1,348. Peavy retired with 2,207 career strikeouts, ranking 66th in MLB history.
Adding a pitcher of Peavy’s caliber to the front office will help further strengthen the Padres’ already impressive pitching staff. With ace Michael King, Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish, and Nick Pivetta leading the rotation, Peavy’s presence will provide valuable mentorship. He joins fellow Padres legend Trevor Hoffman, who serves as a Senior Advisor of Baseball Operations with the team.
In addition to his baseball expertise, Peavy has a natural ability to connect with fans, showcasing his energetic and passionate personality on MLB Network. Now, Padres fans will have the chance to experience this energy firsthand on a local level.
3 San Diego Padres Who Could Earn Their First All-Star Spot in 2025*
By PJ Potter | Mar 12, 2025
The San Diego Padres’ roster is packed with star talent, featuring notable players like Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, Luis Arraez, and Yu Darvish, all of whom deserve All-Star recognition. However, there are a few players on the team who remain under the radar but could make their All-Star debut in 2025. Jason Adam, Dylan Cease, and Michael King are three such players who have the potential to earn their first All-Star nod.
Jason Adam
Jason Adam is one of the most underrated relievers in baseball, with a career WHIP under 1.000. Over the past three seasons, his ERA has been consistently strong—1.56, 2.98, and 1.95. Despite facing four elbow surgeries, Adam has maintained impressive dominance. After being traded from the Rays to the Padres, he was nearly untouchable, allowing just three earned runs in 27 appearances (1.01 ERA) and striking out 31 batters. This spring, Adam continued his stellar form, not allowing a hit or a run in his first five outings. His potential for becoming the Padres’ next closer could further boost his chances, especially if Robert Suarez, who saved 36 games in 2024, is traded. If that happens, Adam would be a natural replacement for the role.
Dylan Cease
It’s surprising that Dylan Cease has never been named an All-Star, despite finishing second and fourth in Cy Young voting. Cease has been a strong pitcher for years, but he’s never made it to the Midsummer Classic. With rumors swirling about a potential trade this offseason, Cease is poised to be an All-Star if he performs up to his usual standard with the Padres. Entering his second season in San Diego, Cease made 33 starts last year, leading the league in starts. Despite a tough two-month stretch in mid-May, he was solid for the rest of the season.
Michael King
Like Cease, Michael King could be a trade candidate this season, particularly with the New York Yankees looking for a replacement for Gerrit Cole. However, if King stays with the Padres, he has the potential to make a serious All-Star push. In 2024, King was arguably the Padres’ best pitcher, posting a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts in his first year as a starting pitcher. Despite his lack of experience in that role, King’s performance didn’t suffer, and he was especially dominant towards the end of the season. In September, he allowed just four earned runs in 23 innings (1.57 ERA) and had similar strong numbers in July and August. If King continues his success in 2025, he’ll be a hard player to overlook for an All-Star spot.
4 Former Padres Struggling in Spring Training
By PJ Potter | Mar 19, 2025
As spring training winds down, some former San Diego Padres players are facing significant struggles, just like a few current Friars. With Opening Day fast approaching, these ex-Padres are running out of time to find their rhythm before the regular season kicks off. Here’s a look at how Josh Bell, Tommy Pham, Gary Sánchez, and Michael Wacha are faring.
Josh Bell
Josh Bell’s career has been a whirlwind the past few years. After being traded to San Diego in the Juan Soto deal in 2022, Bell has yet to settle with a permanent team. Now back with the Nationals, Bell is off to a rough start in spring training, hitting just .171 and striking out 11 times in 25 at-bats as of Wednesday.
Tommy Pham
Tommy Pham, who was considered as a potential left field option for the Padres this offseason, is now with the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his two seasons in San Diego (2020-2021), Pham hit .226 with 18 home runs in 186 games. However, he’s struggling in spring training, batting just .121 (4-for-33), including a current 0-for-15 slump. Although he’s dealing with some hip tightness, Pham should be back to full health soon.
Gary Sánchez
The 32-year-old Gary Sánchez, known for his power, has had a quiet spring. In 11 games with the Baltimore Orioles, he has yet to hit a home run or record an RBI, posting a .154 batting average. After a solid 2023 with San Diego, where he hit 19 home runs in just 72 games, Sánchez’s power has significantly waned, managing only 11 home runs with the Milwaukee Brewers last season.
Michael Wacha
Michael Wacha, who had an excellent 2023 season with the Padres (3.22 ERA in 24 starts), has struggled in spring training. Now with the Kansas City Royals, Wacha has given up 13 runs (11 earned) in just 8 innings across 3 appearances. The home run ball has been a major issue, with Wacha allowing four long balls. Known for his changeup, he’s been missing the zone with that pitch, leading hitters to anticipate and hit other offerings more effectively.
**4 Padres Players Struggling in Spring Training**
By PJ Potter | Mar 18, 2025
As spring training nears its end, some Padres players are failing to make a strong impression, leaving their spots on the Opening Day roster uncertain. With only a week left to impress the coaching staff, Elias Díaz, Martín Maldonado, Ron Marinaccio, and Robert Suarez need to step up their performances to secure their places.
Elias Díaz
The competition at catcher has been one of the most watched positions this spring, but none of the Padres’ catchers have stood out. Díaz, known for his bat, was expected to be a contender, especially after being named MVP of the 2023 All-Star Game. However, he’s struggled offensively, hitting just .160 (4-for-25) with seven strikeouts and no RBIs in 11 games. If Díaz can’t deliver offensively, he may find it tough to secure a spot in the starting lineup.
Martín Maldonado
Maldonado was brought in to be a leader and help improve the Padres’ pitching staff, but his offensive performance has been lacking. He’s not known for a strong bat, having not hit over .200 in the last four seasons, but the Padres still hoped to see more production from him this spring. Unfortunately, Maldonado has only one hit in 17 at-bats, leaving the team needing more from him in the batter’s box.
Ron Marinaccion
Marinaccio’s career has taken a hit recently. After being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees and picked up by the Chicago White Sox, he was traded to the Padres for cash. While still showing some potential with his arm, Marinaccio has struggled in spring training with a 6.75 ERA in 5 1/3 innings. He’s shown flashes of promise with eight strikeouts but hasn’t been consistent enough to convince the Padres that he deserves a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Robert Suarez
Suarez, who saved 36 games last season and appeared to be the Padres’ future closer, has had a disastrous spring. In just 3 2/3 innings over five appearances, he’s allowed eight runs on 10 hits and four walks. His inability to find consistency, with runs allowed in only two of his outings, has raised concerns about his future in the bullpen. Suarez’s struggles have made his position on the team increasingly uncertain.
About The Author
