Post by Padres GM (Noah) on Aug 21, 2017 23:06:10 GMT -5
August, 2017:
The Padres at the trade deadline made several moves to bolster the 2018 roster. The highlight of the season was acquiring outfielder Avisail Garcia from the Marlins in exchange for young pitchers Erick Fedde and Steven Brault, as well as a 3rd round draft pick (Orioles). Two other moves were made to bolster their very weak outfield, with a last minute swap of another young pitcher, Rey Lopez, for outfielder Manny Margot.
Three under the radar moves added pieces to the 2018 team, with the Padres adding outfielder Carlos Gomez (for Miguel Almonte, Shawn Tolleson, and a 3rd round pick), infielder Jorge Polanco (cash considerations), and reliever Brandon Maurer (a 4th round pick). Reliever Nick Vincent was traded to the Orioles for cash considerations and a 3rd round pick, largely to offset cash taken on and the pick lost in the Gomez deal).
Overall, the Padres managed to add potentially five players to their 2018 roster, setting them up for an interesting offseason in which they have over seventy-five million dollars available after arbitration. The offseason free agent pool includes three elite third basemen (Donaldson, Machado, and Turner), however they Padres have Kris Bryant locked in at third base for the foreseeable future.
September-October 2017:
The Padres have had a relatively quiet offseason compared to previous years and the deadline. They retained their entire core from last year, and have made some under the radar moves. Departures included midseason acquisitions Michael Saunders and Brandon Maurer. The two veterans were shipped out with cash in exchange for a first and a second round Rule V draft pick. This cash was recovered when catcher Blake Swihart was sent to the Red Sox for $5M and a 3rd round pick. A more significant move was made to acquire now top prospect Luis Urias in exchange for breakout shortstop Jorge Polanco and prospect Jeisson Rosario, with two draft picks.
They also swapped a third round Rule V pick in exchange for starting pitcher Martin Perez, acquired from the Marlins. Perez comes at a cost of just $1M this season, with options for $7.5M and $9M over the next two seasons. Perez will provide quality depth at the back-end after winning 13 games last season, and could provide value for future seasons with a breakout. In a smaller move, they swapped a 4th round pick for reliever Hector Rondon, a rental who will provide bullpen depth. After a season with 10 holds, the former closer will hopefully rebound and help support a rather weak bullpen. The team could enter free agency with over $70M to spend, filling out the roster.
End of October 2017:
San Diego made two big moves, acquiring two ace pitchers. They sent first baseman Wil Myers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for starting pitcher Carlos Martinez, who is expected to slot towards the top of the rotation. Martinez comes with an inexpensive extension compared to Myers, and a similar length of control.
The Padres also acquired starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner and reliever Will Smith from the Chicago Cubs- moving young starter Luke Weaver, reliever Michael Feliz, and outfield prospect Jorge Ona. Weaver and Ona specifically were rumored to be highly valued by members of the Padres' front office. Smith is arguably the best pitcher in the Padres' bullpen- with Hector Rondon behind him. Bumgarner will certainly be the Padres top pitcher going into next season. He was a part of the 2016 Padres World Series roster.
Bumgarner currently represents the only player from that roster (Myers was a member as well) who is currently with the team. Melky Cabrera, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Jim Johnson were all midseason acquisitions who contributed to the roster in 2016 and are free agents this offseason.
Mid November 2017:
The Padres made three major trades over the last three weeks. They acquired relievers Kevin Siegrist and Adam Warren, along with first baseman Joe Mauer- dealing away a bit of cash and outfield prospect Mark Zagunis in smaller deals. The biggest transaction was the acquisition of starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard, which cost the team Lance McCullers Jr., Steven Matz, and Eduardo Rodriguez. It was a steep cost, but management sees Syndergaard fronting a rotation with Madison Bumgarner.
Additionally, the Padres shored up their outfield depth by acquiring Randal Grichuk (for back-up catcher Christian Vasquez, outfield prospect Steven Duggar, and a 3rd round pick) and Josh Reddick [for Daniel Norris (who was recently acquired for cash) prospect Corbin Martin, and a 4th round pick]. These moves give the team a solution for its LF and DH positions on offense. The team is now looking to fill holes at catcher, first base, and second base, and will likely address these needs through free agency. There is also the possibility for the team to add more relief pitching before the season starts through trade or free agency.
Late November/December 2017:
The Padres first struck by landing closer Rasiel Iglesias from the Royals in exchange for two prospects (Yefri Del Rosario and Jesus Tinoco) and two rule V 2nd's, and then sending starting pitcher Carlos Rodon to the Rays for second baseman Dee Gordon. In a more surprising move, they sent ace Madison Bumgarner to the Rays right after in exchange for pitcher Aaron Sanchez and outfielder Kyle Schwarber.
In early December, the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes led the Padres to place a bid, but ultimately lose out to the Blue Jays. They moved star outfielder Avisail Garcia, Daniel Robertson and a 1st round pick for about $40M in cap space, and then sent another 1st round pick and $15M in cap space to the Blue Jays in exchange for young starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow. They also waived infielders Ryan Schimpf and Brett Lawrie to clear up cap space, and sent $2M to the Rockies in exchange for reliever Jose Leclerc, who will provide bullpen depth.
They also were able to add starting pitchers Andrew Cashner (for prospect Taylor Guerreiri) and Kenta Maeda (for reliever Jose Leclerc and first baseman Joe Mauer). Both of these moves were essentially taking on salary in order to add depth to the bottom of the rotation. For bullpen depth, they added relievers Deck McGuire and Andrew Kittredge via waivers.
Late December 2017:
The Padres have made a shocking move just before Christmas- acquiring one of the top pitchers in the league, Max Scherzer, and cash considerations for outfielder Randal Grichuk and injured young pitcher Julio Urias. Urias was a huge part of the Padres core going into 2016 and was expected to be the most stable piece on the roster. Alternatively, for one year of Max Scherzer, they saw an opportunity. Scherzer will headline a rotation featuring Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Martinez, Taijuan Walker, Aaron Sanchez, and Kenta Maeda. The rotation becomes a strength for a team that still has $48M in cap space to spend in free agency.
January 2018:
They started by flipping Max Scherzer in a stunning move for infielder Javier Baez and starter Julio Teheran. Teheran slots into the rotation and Baez will fill out the offense. They also sent Miles Mikolas to the Dodgers for prospect Logan Shore, $3M in cash, and pick 2.05. This lead to the acquisition of reliever Will Harris for fringe prospects Kyle Zimmer and Mitch Nay.
Free Agency 2018:
update January 17: The Padres signed first baseman Yonder Alonso to a 2-year contract worth a total of $4M per season. They have expressed interest in several other infielders and catchers so far. Surprisingly they have not gone after elite third baseman and 25-year old Manny Machado, despite rumors that they would.
trade alerts January 17: After signing Alonso, the team lost out on third baseman Mike Moustakas at the last minute (who would have been signed to a 5-year, 70 million dollar contract). The bidding was still open, but jumped past the price of comfort for the team. Instead, they traded $5M in cap room for shortstop Jasrado Chisholm and made another move to acquire third baseman Jake Lamb and prospect Steven Duggar in exchange for pitchers Julio Teheran and Kenta Maeda, a 2nd round pick, and cash considerations in a 3-way trade.
update January 18: The team inked catcher Yasmani Grandal to a 4-year contract worth $4.5M a season. They were also in on catcher Jonathan Lucroy, but Grandal proved to be the final choice by San Diego management. Grandal will supplement young catcher Austin Hedges as he continues to develop. Justin Smoak signed a 4-year deal worth $7M a season as well- he will take over first base, and provide depth at the position with Yonder Alonso. The team has approximately $18M left in cap room.
January-February 2018:
The Padres moved reliever Josh Fields to the Rangers for a late draft pick, clearing enough cash to get back under the salary cap. They also shipped infielders Raul Mondesi Jr. and Yandy Diaz with reliever Will Harris to the Giants for outfielder Hunter Renfroe and a 3rd round pick and sent $20M to the Indians in exchange for young starting pitcher Julio Urias. They also moved outfielder Carlos Gomez and cash considerations to the Astros in exchange for infield prospects Jose Israel Garcia and Kevin Newman, and more cash considerations for infielder Jazz Chisholm.
March 2018:
The Padres claimed relievers Tayron Guerrero and Adam Cimber off waivers, adding to their relief pitching depth. They also signed outfielder Jason Heyward to a five-year deal, worth three million dollars a season.
May 2018:
After a hot start, the Padres flipped Heyward to the Rays in exchange for SP prospects Riley Pint and Dakota Chalmers. This freed up cash, so the Padres claimed RP's Adam Morgan and Chaz Roe, to provide holds to a weak pen. They then flipped closer Rasiel Iglesias to the Athletics for starters Tyler Skaggs and Hyun-Jin Ryu, and then reliever Hector Rondon for Jaime Garcia and Wei-Yin Chen. After Chen built up a bit of value, the team flipped him for pitching prospect Cory Abbott.
June 9th:
There are rumors that the Padres have a large trade in the works, possibly moving key contributors such as Dee Gordon and Tyson Ross. It appears there may be three teams involved as well. A deal of this magnitude could create an opening for the team to make several more trades over the next two months.
June 10th:
The Padres made a massive swap, moving 2B Dee Gordon, C Austin Hedges, SS Javier Baez, injured pitchers Hyun-Jin Ryu and Taijuan Walker, rental pitchers Tyson Ross, Jaime Garcia, and Will Smith to the Astros and Braves. They acquired a handful of prospects, namely Buddy Reed, Joey Wentz, and Francisco Morales. They also added top starting pitchers Chris Archer and Dallas Keuchel, as well as catcher Wilson Ramos and 2B Jason Kipnis. SP Jarlin Garcia, SP Lance Lynn, and OF Kevin Pillar also moved to San Diego. This deal was a lot of moving parts but benefited the Padres in the short-term, in their long-term salary structure, and their farm system.
June 2018:
After their monster deal, the team made three more trades. Two with the Astros which netted: OF Josh Reddick, RP Deck McGuire, and RP Tayron Guerrero to the A's for 2B Jedd Gyorko, RP Shane Carle, and late draft picks (which turned into Sean Wymer and Davis Martin).
They also sent catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was no longer needed due to the acquisition of Wilson Ramos, for struggling outfielder Domingo Santana, prospect Sandy Alcantara, and a 2019 1st round pick.
July 2018:
After drafting Griffin Roberts, Seam Wymer, and Davis Martin, the Padres also signed outfielder Jairo Pomares and shortstop Charlie Aquino to minor league contracts with bonuses of approximately ~$3M. In late July, they claimed 3B David Bote off waivers.
August 2018:
The Padres put together a shrewd and efficient deadline, acquiring catcher Brian McCann as a rental for depth, for prospect Kevin Melean. They also acquired a versatile bat from the Brewers in Ben Zobrist for this season and next in exchange for struggling pitcher Riley Pint and a 3rd round draft pick. They also grabbed closer Michal Givens in exchange for infield prospect Kevin Newman. They ultimately made the playoffs as a Wild Card, but were eliminated by the Cubs before advancing to the next round.
September 2018:
The Padres made some interesting moves heading into the offseason. They shipped second baseman Jason Kipnis to the Indians in exchange for pitcher Marco Estrada in an exchange of bad contracts. The move freed up $5.5 million dollars in cap room ($2.75M in guaranteed space). They also sent first-baseman Justin Smoak to the Phillies in exchange for their top rV pick (4th overall), in a deal that takes away depth but will allow the team to add a solid prospect. The team also shipped star catcher Wilson Ramos on a 1-year deal to their division rival A's in exchange for four young players: Jonathan Holder, Joe Ross, David Fletcher, and Adalberto Mejia. Particularly, Joe Ross is expected to be a strong contributor next season. The team then reallocated some of the cash gained from the Ramos deal in a trade with the Rays, moving $7.5M to pick up a 1st and 3rd rounder in the rV draft.
October 2018:
San Diego made some surprising moves this week. They shipped out infielder Jake Lamb to the Marlins in exchange for $22 million dollars in cap room. They were also able to send infielder David Bote to the Yankees for an early 3rd round pick and $3.5 million in cap space. They utilized a bit of this, by sending pitcher Aaron Sanchez and outfielder Kevin Pillar to the Astros in exchange for first baseman Edwin Encarnacion and reliever Blake Parker, with cash considerations. This move cost the team about $4 million in cap space. Encarnacion will help fill the void opened by the earlier departure of Justin Smoak, complementing Yonder Alonso at UT/1B. The team also added outfielder Pablo Reyes and pitchers Matt Hall and Josh Rogers via waivers.
November 2018:
The Padres made a quick move for cash, sending their 2019 1st round pick to the Marlins for $9.5M in cash. They also selected SS Luis Rengifo with the 4th overall selection in the rule V draft. They will continue to make selections over the coming days, but Rengifo is expected to provide quick relief for a team in need of middle infield depth. They also selected 3B Miguel Vargas, SP Tyler Phillips, and OF McGregory Contreras.
Late November, they moved their 2020 1st round pick, and outfield prospects Buddy Reed and Blake Rutherford to the Brewers in exchange for star catcher Salvador Perez and cash considerations. This move fills San Diego's biggest hole, which was created when catcher Wilson Ramos was moved to the rival Giants.
December 2018:
The Padres started off with a splash, sending starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel, first baseman Yonder Alonso, and infielder Ben Zobrist to the Houston Astros, in exchange for first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, outfielder Carlos Gomez and reliever Brad Peacock, with a 2020 3rd and 7th round draft pick. The deal saw the Padres take on exactly $9M in cap room, however that could be reduced by releasing outfielder Carlos Gomez. Goldschmidt will fill a need in the Padres lineup. They are currently hoping to extend Goldschmidt, but it is unknown whether that can be done at this time.
They also moved to acquire outfielder Harrison Bader and pitching prospects Logan Allen and Michel Miliano in exchange for right fielder Hunter Renfroe, starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara, and reliever Jose Castillo. The deal gives the Padres a centerfielder to pair with Manuel Margot. Allen and Miliano add a bit of depth to a relatively weak farm system. The team also made moves to shed Marco Estrada and Carlos Gomez's contracts, losing outfielder Pablo Reyes and pitching prospect Reggie Lawson. They are now at $90.55m going into free agency.
Free Agency 2018 Part 1:
Primer: The team has $90.55m, and holes at second base and in right field. They have Luis Urias, David Fletcher, Luis Rengifo, and Domingo Santana at those positions but also have publicly stated they are in the market at those positions. They also recently dealt starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Sandy Alcantara, so they may be in the market to add another starting pitcher.
Update #1:
5:52 PM - Dec 10: The Padres were rumored to have offered elite outfielder a contract worth nearly $200 million dollars over five years, however this was not enough as they were quickly outbid by the Mets. It's possible they are still in on Harper but it is unknown at this point the extent of their interest. Their free agent strategy will be interesting to watch going into the next few days, as they have $91.75m in cap room and flexible payroll. This will be updated with more rumors and updates.
7:28 PM - Dec 11: Despite having $91.75m in cap room available, they have still not added a free agent. It appears they are in on several, but have continued to be outbid. Bryce Harper officially signed with the Mets and Wil Myers signed with the Tigers. These deals marked interesting players the Padres were in on. Insider sources state they were #2 and #3 on the list of Padres targets going into free agency, so it appears likely prices are too high at the moment. They do however have a total of ~$50m a year out in offers to several players.
6:20 PM - Dec 12: The Padres have finally signed their first free agent, inking first baseman Jose Abreu to a five year contract worth $57.5M in total. They will bank on a rebound and likely move first baseman Edwin Encarnacion in another deal. They view this as an upgrade at both a backup 1B and UT over Encarnacion.
8:23 PM - Dec 13: The Padres have made another splash, adding outfielder Yasiel Puig on a 5-year, $60 million dollar contract. Puig will replace outgoing right fielder Hunter Renfroe (recently moved to the Yankees) and serve as one of the premier offensive pieces on the team.
5:30 AM - Dec 14: The Padres have signed their third free agent, outfielder Aaron Hicks to a 5-year, $49.5 million dollar deal. He will slot into the centerfield spot, and add a bit of power and speed to a dynamic outfield that already includes the recently signed Yasiel Puig, power hitter Kyle Schwarber, and Harrison Bader. The Padres finished this round off free agency with $57.35 million dollars in cap room remaining, adding three dynamic offensive players.
December 2018 Post-FA:
The Padres made an interesting move, sending first baseman Edwin Encarnacion, outfielder Domingo Santana, and pitchers Adalberto Mejia and Blake Parker to the Pirates in exchange for pitchers Ross Stripling and Jon Gray. This move adds a bit of depth and control to a rotation that was lacking back end starters.
January 2018:
The Padres acquired 2B/SS Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and cash considerations from the Houston Astros in exchange for pitchers Joe Ross, Adam Cimber, and David Hernandez. This deal adds some inexpensive infield depth to supplement young infielders Luis Urias and Luis Rengifo at the 2B position, and grabs a backup for Tim Anderson.
The team also moved relief pitcher Chaz Roe to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitching prospect Anthony Banda, which frees up a spot on the 40-man roster and saves the team a bit of cash. It also adds some depth to a system that has lost quite a bit in recent months. They also dealt $2 million dollars to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick.
Free Agency 2018 Part 2:
Jan 04 - 4:06 PM: The Padres struck quick, adding ace Gerrit Cole on a 5-year contract, worth $20M per season. They also added reliever Justin Wilson on a 5-year deal that costs less than $1m annually. This move replenishes some of the bullpen depth lost by moving Adam Cimber and David Hernandez to the Astros the day before.
Jan 05 - 7:01 PM: The team appears close on several deals for more pitching depth. Today the club added all-star closer Craig Kimbrel on a 5-year contract worth $38 million dollars, far under expected value. Paired with Cole, the Padres staff is much improved. They also added reliever A.J. Ramos on an inexpensive 2-year contract, worth $1.6 million dollars total. The team seems intent on acquiring another starting pitcher or two via free agency as well.
Jan 06 - 7:26 PM: The San Diego Padres appear to have bowed out of the Clayton Kershaw sweepstakes. They still have about $26 million dollars in cap room, but the long term commitment to Kershaw is too steep. There have also been rumors around the acquisition of Arizona ace Jacob Degrom. The most likely option is that they will add a couple mid-tier SP in free agency.
Jan 08 - 11:40 AM: The Padres briefly re-entered the Kershaw sweepstakes only to lose out to their division rival Dodgers, who inked him to a 5-year, 138 million dollar contract. They still have approximately $27 million dollars in cap space. They also appeared close to deals with starters Sonny Gray and Alex Wood, which both appear to have fallen through. More updates to come over the next few days.
Jan 09 - 4:25 PM: The Padres did ink Alex Wood to a 5-year contract worth $9 million dollars a season. They immediately flipped Wood to the Angels in a sign-and-trade deal sending Wood and cash considerations ($8.9 million this season and $4 million next season) in exchange for top prospect Hunter Greene. This bolsters the farm and leaves about $18 million dollars in cap room for the Padres to work with. They are believed to have an offer out on pitcher Masahiro Tanaka but it is unknown how serious their bid is.
Jan 11 - 10:46 PM: The Padres inked second baseman Logan Forsythe to a 2-year contract worth $500k per season. He will provide depth at a relatively weak position.
Post FA January 2019:
The Padres had some remaining cash after their free agency, and moved about $6 million dollars and a rule V 3rd (the Rays pick) to the Red Sox in exchange for young prospect Wander Javier, marking another significant addition to a once weak farm system.
February 2019:
The Padres inked 2B Brett Lawrie to a 3-year contract, worth 900k a season and veteran reliever Aaron Loup to a 2 year, 500k per season deal. They also claimed several players off waivers, including pitcher Hector Velazquez off waivers, who they proceeded move to the Los Angeles Angels for a 7th round pick. Jimmy Yacabonis, DJ Johnson, and Adam Kolarek were the other claims.
The team traded for starting pitcher Rick Porcello and cash considerations, in exchange for prospect Tristan Beck and a 2nd round pick. This move provides a bit of depth to a rotation that is high upside but also bares high risk.
March 2019:
The Padres gained the option to ink star first-baseman Paul Goldschmidt to a 5-year extension.
May 2019:
The Padres dealt first baseman Jose Abreu to the rival San Francisco Giants with struggling relief pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis, in exchange for infielder and outfielder Chris Taylor, and young reliever Nick Anderson. This deal provides the team with future financial flexibility and some versatility offensively.
July 2019:
The Padres inked catcher Buster Posey to a three-year contract, worth $3M a season. They also participated in International Free Agency, inking shortstop Elijah Tatis (500k), infielder Michel Triana (600k), outfielder Jose Cordero (200k) and shortstop Yolbert Sanchez ($1.7M).
They also acquired designated hitter Nelson Cruz and reliever Dellin Betances for a 1st and a 3rd round draft pick. This deal adds some depth for a postseason run.
The team dealt rental closer Shane Greene to the Toronto Blue Jays for prospects Luiz Gohara and Esteury Ruiz.
The team moved centerfielder Aaron Hicks to the White Sox in exchange for infielder Gio Urshela.
August 2019:
In a shocking move, the Padres acquired starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for prospects Logan Allen, Anthony Volpe, Dakota Chalmers, and a 2nd round pick. They also added a significant amount of cash considerations in the deal.
They also acquired starter Miles Mikolas from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for prospects Noah Song and Wander Javier, as well as reliever Buck Farmer from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a 4th and a 5th round pick.
October 2019:
The Padres, coming off a heartbreaking NLCS loss, have professed a desire to redesign the team moving into next season. They started by moving veteran catcher Buster Posey to the Indians in exchange for a 3rd round rV pick. This move is the first of many to shed salary and attempt to increase the team's competitive window moving forward.
They also announced that they have inked slugging first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and pitchers Carlos Martinez and Chris Archer to extensions, avoiding free agency.
November 2019:
The Padres kicked off the month with a slurry of moves, first acquiring superstar third baseman Rafael Devers, in exchange for prospects Alec Bohm, Luis Urias, Jose Israel Garcia, Ronny Henriquez, Orlando Chivilli, and Keyber Rodriguez. Long-time third baseman Kris Bryant will move to right field, replacing Yasiel Puig who was shipped to the Brewers in exchange for catching prospect Daulton Vasho, pitching prospect Josh Wolf, and a 2020 3rd round draft pick.
They also moved star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to the Miami Marlins for prospects Leodys Taveras and Tristan McKenzie, and two draft picks. Lastly, they moved starting pitcher Chris Archer and cash considerations to the Giants in exchange for pitcher Framber Valdez.
The Padres also made a deal to acquire star second baseman Ozzie Albies in exchange for ace starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard, reliever Dellin Betances, and outfielder Kyle Schwarber. In the same deal, catcher Jonathan Lucroy went to the Cardinals and 2 5th round picks came to the Padres.
January 2020:
The Padres opened free agency by claiming second baseman Dee Gordon off of waivers, relinquishing the 4th overall slot in the waiver priority list and giving him a 1-year contract worth $4.75m, but soon after they flipped Gordon, with a 2nd and a 3rd round pick, to the Mets in exchange for center fielder Lorenzo Cain and cash considerations. They also moved a rV pick and outfielder Benyamin Bailey in separate deals for cash considerations, and acquired catcher Wilson Ramos and cash from the division rival Giants in exchange for reliever Buck Farmer and outfielder Harrison Bader.
With their savings, they inked starting pitcher Marcus Stroman to a 5-year contract, worth $50 million dollars. They appear close to finished, although they could trim payroll for 2021 by dealing Clayton Kershaw or Carlos Martinez. This could require them to add more depth to the rotation and bullpen.
In a quick series of moves, the Padres sent starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw to the rival Diamondbacks for shortstop J.P. Crawford and sent third baseman Gio Urshela to the Brewers for prospects Ke'Bryan Hayes, Brennan Malone, and Enyel De Los Santos. These moves add some young depth to the team and significantly increase payroll flexibility for 2021 and beyond.
February 2020:
The Padres claimed relief pitchers Ryne Harper and Tyler Duffey off waivers, and sent their remaining 3rd round rule V draft pick to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a 4th round amateur draft pick and pitching prospect Yadier Alvarez. They also signed IFA pitchers Henry Baez and Edwin Nunez (in June) to minor league contracts with bonuses of $100k and $3M respectively. They expressed interest in free agent reliever Tommy Kahnle. These moves exemplify a push to add pitching depth to both the major league roster and minor league ranks.
They added outfielder/first baseman Jake Bauers and cash considerations from the Blue Jays in exchange for prospect Michael Triana. In another move, they shipped prospects Sammy Siani and Ljay Newsome and a 4th round pick to the Orioles for outfielder Christin Stewart and pitcher Luis Ortiz. This adds outfield depth to a group featuring Kris Bryant, Lorenzo Cain, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, and Manuel Margot already.
May 2020:
The Padres claimed RP Jimmy Cordero off waivers.
June 2020:
The Padres claimed OF John Andreoli, RP Phillips Valdez, and RP Brendan Kline off waivers.
July 2020:
The Padres swapped draft picks (2020 5th for a 2021 5th) with the Red Sox in a small deal, and sent another 5th rounder to the Yankees for $1M in cap space. They also inked IFA P Richard Brito to a contract worth $2.6M.
August 2020:
The Padres moved towards a cost-cutting direction, hoping to retain or replace some pending free agents. They started the season by moving oft-injured pitcher Carlos Martinez to the Pirates in exchange for SP Erick Fedde and pitching prospect Jake Eder. They then flipped Eder and pitching prospect Brennan Malone to the Red Sox in exchange for a one year rental of SP Stephen Strasburg. After this, they moved SP Ross Stripling and relievers Michal Givens and Justin Wilson to the Giants for young SP Justus Sheffield. Continuing the flurry of moves, they also acquired OF Dustin Fowler from the Reds for a 7th round pick.
The next day, they swapped OF Lorenzo Cain to the Marlins for OF Yoenis Cespedes (who was shortly moved to the Rays for a 7th) and C Meibrys Viloria, claimed infielder Donovan Solano off waivers, and acquired young SP Cal Quantrill for reliever Jimmy Cordero and the team's 2022 1st round pick. They also flipped reliever Tyler Duffey for another reliever, Buck Farmer, in a quick deal with the Giants.
In another series of moves, they acquired SP Kenta Maeda and RP Javy Guerra in exchange for Marcus Stroman (in a deal that saw Jose Abreu move to the rival Giants). They also acquired outfielder Jesse Winker and rental starting pitcher Charlie Morton for catcher Salvador Perez, outfielder Manuel Margot, reliever Adam Kolarek, and a 3rd round pick. In a final move, they grabbed outfielder Josh Reddick from the Rangers for a 5th round pick.
In a curious move, they sent infield prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Pirates for catching prospect Keibert Ruiz, a 3rd, and a 5th round draft pick.
They also sent starting pitcher Charlie Morton and infielder Donovan Solano to the Giants, to re-acquire starting pitcher Ross Stripling, who was flipped in a deal that essentially netted 1B/LF/UT Jose Martinez as offensive depth.
They claimed Tyler Heineman and Chadwick Tromp off waivers, and inked OF Justin Upton to a two year contract, worth $2M per season.
Deadline Day:
Moved RP Craig Kimbrel and C Wilson Ramos to the Giants for SP Williams Jerez (immediately released)
Acquired RP Tyler Kinley from Mets for 2021 7th
Acquired CL Emilio Pagan from Athletics for 2022 2nd, 2022 3rd, prospect Cory Abbott
Acquired C Tony Wolters from the Mets for 2021 7th
Acquired C Kurt Suzuki from the Orioles for prospects Davis Martin and Jake Eder
Acquired OF Jorge Soler from the Cardinals for outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and reliever Phillips Valdez
The Padres at the trade deadline made several moves to bolster the 2018 roster. The highlight of the season was acquiring outfielder Avisail Garcia from the Marlins in exchange for young pitchers Erick Fedde and Steven Brault, as well as a 3rd round draft pick (Orioles). Two other moves were made to bolster their very weak outfield, with a last minute swap of another young pitcher, Rey Lopez, for outfielder Manny Margot.
Three under the radar moves added pieces to the 2018 team, with the Padres adding outfielder Carlos Gomez (for Miguel Almonte, Shawn Tolleson, and a 3rd round pick), infielder Jorge Polanco (cash considerations), and reliever Brandon Maurer (a 4th round pick). Reliever Nick Vincent was traded to the Orioles for cash considerations and a 3rd round pick, largely to offset cash taken on and the pick lost in the Gomez deal).
Overall, the Padres managed to add potentially five players to their 2018 roster, setting them up for an interesting offseason in which they have over seventy-five million dollars available after arbitration. The offseason free agent pool includes three elite third basemen (Donaldson, Machado, and Turner), however they Padres have Kris Bryant locked in at third base for the foreseeable future.
September-October 2017:
The Padres have had a relatively quiet offseason compared to previous years and the deadline. They retained their entire core from last year, and have made some under the radar moves. Departures included midseason acquisitions Michael Saunders and Brandon Maurer. The two veterans were shipped out with cash in exchange for a first and a second round Rule V draft pick. This cash was recovered when catcher Blake Swihart was sent to the Red Sox for $5M and a 3rd round pick. A more significant move was made to acquire now top prospect Luis Urias in exchange for breakout shortstop Jorge Polanco and prospect Jeisson Rosario, with two draft picks.
They also swapped a third round Rule V pick in exchange for starting pitcher Martin Perez, acquired from the Marlins. Perez comes at a cost of just $1M this season, with options for $7.5M and $9M over the next two seasons. Perez will provide quality depth at the back-end after winning 13 games last season, and could provide value for future seasons with a breakout. In a smaller move, they swapped a 4th round pick for reliever Hector Rondon, a rental who will provide bullpen depth. After a season with 10 holds, the former closer will hopefully rebound and help support a rather weak bullpen. The team could enter free agency with over $70M to spend, filling out the roster.
End of October 2017:
San Diego made two big moves, acquiring two ace pitchers. They sent first baseman Wil Myers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for starting pitcher Carlos Martinez, who is expected to slot towards the top of the rotation. Martinez comes with an inexpensive extension compared to Myers, and a similar length of control.
The Padres also acquired starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner and reliever Will Smith from the Chicago Cubs- moving young starter Luke Weaver, reliever Michael Feliz, and outfield prospect Jorge Ona. Weaver and Ona specifically were rumored to be highly valued by members of the Padres' front office. Smith is arguably the best pitcher in the Padres' bullpen- with Hector Rondon behind him. Bumgarner will certainly be the Padres top pitcher going into next season. He was a part of the 2016 Padres World Series roster.
Bumgarner currently represents the only player from that roster (Myers was a member as well) who is currently with the team. Melky Cabrera, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Jim Johnson were all midseason acquisitions who contributed to the roster in 2016 and are free agents this offseason.
Mid November 2017:
The Padres made three major trades over the last three weeks. They acquired relievers Kevin Siegrist and Adam Warren, along with first baseman Joe Mauer- dealing away a bit of cash and outfield prospect Mark Zagunis in smaller deals. The biggest transaction was the acquisition of starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard, which cost the team Lance McCullers Jr., Steven Matz, and Eduardo Rodriguez. It was a steep cost, but management sees Syndergaard fronting a rotation with Madison Bumgarner.
Additionally, the Padres shored up their outfield depth by acquiring Randal Grichuk (for back-up catcher Christian Vasquez, outfield prospect Steven Duggar, and a 3rd round pick) and Josh Reddick [for Daniel Norris (who was recently acquired for cash) prospect Corbin Martin, and a 4th round pick]. These moves give the team a solution for its LF and DH positions on offense. The team is now looking to fill holes at catcher, first base, and second base, and will likely address these needs through free agency. There is also the possibility for the team to add more relief pitching before the season starts through trade or free agency.
Late November/December 2017:
The Padres first struck by landing closer Rasiel Iglesias from the Royals in exchange for two prospects (Yefri Del Rosario and Jesus Tinoco) and two rule V 2nd's, and then sending starting pitcher Carlos Rodon to the Rays for second baseman Dee Gordon. In a more surprising move, they sent ace Madison Bumgarner to the Rays right after in exchange for pitcher Aaron Sanchez and outfielder Kyle Schwarber.
In early December, the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes led the Padres to place a bid, but ultimately lose out to the Blue Jays. They moved star outfielder Avisail Garcia, Daniel Robertson and a 1st round pick for about $40M in cap space, and then sent another 1st round pick and $15M in cap space to the Blue Jays in exchange for young starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow. They also waived infielders Ryan Schimpf and Brett Lawrie to clear up cap space, and sent $2M to the Rockies in exchange for reliever Jose Leclerc, who will provide bullpen depth.
They also were able to add starting pitchers Andrew Cashner (for prospect Taylor Guerreiri) and Kenta Maeda (for reliever Jose Leclerc and first baseman Joe Mauer). Both of these moves were essentially taking on salary in order to add depth to the bottom of the rotation. For bullpen depth, they added relievers Deck McGuire and Andrew Kittredge via waivers.
Late December 2017:
The Padres have made a shocking move just before Christmas- acquiring one of the top pitchers in the league, Max Scherzer, and cash considerations for outfielder Randal Grichuk and injured young pitcher Julio Urias. Urias was a huge part of the Padres core going into 2016 and was expected to be the most stable piece on the roster. Alternatively, for one year of Max Scherzer, they saw an opportunity. Scherzer will headline a rotation featuring Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Martinez, Taijuan Walker, Aaron Sanchez, and Kenta Maeda. The rotation becomes a strength for a team that still has $48M in cap space to spend in free agency.
January 2018:
They started by flipping Max Scherzer in a stunning move for infielder Javier Baez and starter Julio Teheran. Teheran slots into the rotation and Baez will fill out the offense. They also sent Miles Mikolas to the Dodgers for prospect Logan Shore, $3M in cash, and pick 2.05. This lead to the acquisition of reliever Will Harris for fringe prospects Kyle Zimmer and Mitch Nay.
Free Agency 2018:
update January 17: The Padres signed first baseman Yonder Alonso to a 2-year contract worth a total of $4M per season. They have expressed interest in several other infielders and catchers so far. Surprisingly they have not gone after elite third baseman and 25-year old Manny Machado, despite rumors that they would.
trade alerts January 17: After signing Alonso, the team lost out on third baseman Mike Moustakas at the last minute (who would have been signed to a 5-year, 70 million dollar contract). The bidding was still open, but jumped past the price of comfort for the team. Instead, they traded $5M in cap room for shortstop Jasrado Chisholm and made another move to acquire third baseman Jake Lamb and prospect Steven Duggar in exchange for pitchers Julio Teheran and Kenta Maeda, a 2nd round pick, and cash considerations in a 3-way trade.
update January 18: The team inked catcher Yasmani Grandal to a 4-year contract worth $4.5M a season. They were also in on catcher Jonathan Lucroy, but Grandal proved to be the final choice by San Diego management. Grandal will supplement young catcher Austin Hedges as he continues to develop. Justin Smoak signed a 4-year deal worth $7M a season as well- he will take over first base, and provide depth at the position with Yonder Alonso. The team has approximately $18M left in cap room.
January-February 2018:
The Padres moved reliever Josh Fields to the Rangers for a late draft pick, clearing enough cash to get back under the salary cap. They also shipped infielders Raul Mondesi Jr. and Yandy Diaz with reliever Will Harris to the Giants for outfielder Hunter Renfroe and a 3rd round pick and sent $20M to the Indians in exchange for young starting pitcher Julio Urias. They also moved outfielder Carlos Gomez and cash considerations to the Astros in exchange for infield prospects Jose Israel Garcia and Kevin Newman, and more cash considerations for infielder Jazz Chisholm.
March 2018:
The Padres claimed relievers Tayron Guerrero and Adam Cimber off waivers, adding to their relief pitching depth. They also signed outfielder Jason Heyward to a five-year deal, worth three million dollars a season.
May 2018:
After a hot start, the Padres flipped Heyward to the Rays in exchange for SP prospects Riley Pint and Dakota Chalmers. This freed up cash, so the Padres claimed RP's Adam Morgan and Chaz Roe, to provide holds to a weak pen. They then flipped closer Rasiel Iglesias to the Athletics for starters Tyler Skaggs and Hyun-Jin Ryu, and then reliever Hector Rondon for Jaime Garcia and Wei-Yin Chen. After Chen built up a bit of value, the team flipped him for pitching prospect Cory Abbott.
June 9th:
There are rumors that the Padres have a large trade in the works, possibly moving key contributors such as Dee Gordon and Tyson Ross. It appears there may be three teams involved as well. A deal of this magnitude could create an opening for the team to make several more trades over the next two months.
June 10th:
The Padres made a massive swap, moving 2B Dee Gordon, C Austin Hedges, SS Javier Baez, injured pitchers Hyun-Jin Ryu and Taijuan Walker, rental pitchers Tyson Ross, Jaime Garcia, and Will Smith to the Astros and Braves. They acquired a handful of prospects, namely Buddy Reed, Joey Wentz, and Francisco Morales. They also added top starting pitchers Chris Archer and Dallas Keuchel, as well as catcher Wilson Ramos and 2B Jason Kipnis. SP Jarlin Garcia, SP Lance Lynn, and OF Kevin Pillar also moved to San Diego. This deal was a lot of moving parts but benefited the Padres in the short-term, in their long-term salary structure, and their farm system.
June 2018:
After their monster deal, the team made three more trades. Two with the Astros which netted: OF Josh Reddick, RP Deck McGuire, and RP Tayron Guerrero to the A's for 2B Jedd Gyorko, RP Shane Carle, and late draft picks (which turned into Sean Wymer and Davis Martin).
They also sent catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was no longer needed due to the acquisition of Wilson Ramos, for struggling outfielder Domingo Santana, prospect Sandy Alcantara, and a 2019 1st round pick.
July 2018:
After drafting Griffin Roberts, Seam Wymer, and Davis Martin, the Padres also signed outfielder Jairo Pomares and shortstop Charlie Aquino to minor league contracts with bonuses of approximately ~$3M. In late July, they claimed 3B David Bote off waivers.
August 2018:
The Padres put together a shrewd and efficient deadline, acquiring catcher Brian McCann as a rental for depth, for prospect Kevin Melean. They also acquired a versatile bat from the Brewers in Ben Zobrist for this season and next in exchange for struggling pitcher Riley Pint and a 3rd round draft pick. They also grabbed closer Michal Givens in exchange for infield prospect Kevin Newman. They ultimately made the playoffs as a Wild Card, but were eliminated by the Cubs before advancing to the next round.
September 2018:
The Padres made some interesting moves heading into the offseason. They shipped second baseman Jason Kipnis to the Indians in exchange for pitcher Marco Estrada in an exchange of bad contracts. The move freed up $5.5 million dollars in cap room ($2.75M in guaranteed space). They also sent first-baseman Justin Smoak to the Phillies in exchange for their top rV pick (4th overall), in a deal that takes away depth but will allow the team to add a solid prospect. The team also shipped star catcher Wilson Ramos on a 1-year deal to their division rival A's in exchange for four young players: Jonathan Holder, Joe Ross, David Fletcher, and Adalberto Mejia. Particularly, Joe Ross is expected to be a strong contributor next season. The team then reallocated some of the cash gained from the Ramos deal in a trade with the Rays, moving $7.5M to pick up a 1st and 3rd rounder in the rV draft.
October 2018:
San Diego made some surprising moves this week. They shipped out infielder Jake Lamb to the Marlins in exchange for $22 million dollars in cap room. They were also able to send infielder David Bote to the Yankees for an early 3rd round pick and $3.5 million in cap space. They utilized a bit of this, by sending pitcher Aaron Sanchez and outfielder Kevin Pillar to the Astros in exchange for first baseman Edwin Encarnacion and reliever Blake Parker, with cash considerations. This move cost the team about $4 million in cap space. Encarnacion will help fill the void opened by the earlier departure of Justin Smoak, complementing Yonder Alonso at UT/1B. The team also added outfielder Pablo Reyes and pitchers Matt Hall and Josh Rogers via waivers.
November 2018:
The Padres made a quick move for cash, sending their 2019 1st round pick to the Marlins for $9.5M in cash. They also selected SS Luis Rengifo with the 4th overall selection in the rule V draft. They will continue to make selections over the coming days, but Rengifo is expected to provide quick relief for a team in need of middle infield depth. They also selected 3B Miguel Vargas, SP Tyler Phillips, and OF McGregory Contreras.
Late November, they moved their 2020 1st round pick, and outfield prospects Buddy Reed and Blake Rutherford to the Brewers in exchange for star catcher Salvador Perez and cash considerations. This move fills San Diego's biggest hole, which was created when catcher Wilson Ramos was moved to the rival Giants.
December 2018:
The Padres started off with a splash, sending starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel, first baseman Yonder Alonso, and infielder Ben Zobrist to the Houston Astros, in exchange for first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, outfielder Carlos Gomez and reliever Brad Peacock, with a 2020 3rd and 7th round draft pick. The deal saw the Padres take on exactly $9M in cap room, however that could be reduced by releasing outfielder Carlos Gomez. Goldschmidt will fill a need in the Padres lineup. They are currently hoping to extend Goldschmidt, but it is unknown whether that can be done at this time.
They also moved to acquire outfielder Harrison Bader and pitching prospects Logan Allen and Michel Miliano in exchange for right fielder Hunter Renfroe, starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara, and reliever Jose Castillo. The deal gives the Padres a centerfielder to pair with Manuel Margot. Allen and Miliano add a bit of depth to a relatively weak farm system. The team also made moves to shed Marco Estrada and Carlos Gomez's contracts, losing outfielder Pablo Reyes and pitching prospect Reggie Lawson. They are now at $90.55m going into free agency.
Free Agency 2018 Part 1:
Primer: The team has $90.55m, and holes at second base and in right field. They have Luis Urias, David Fletcher, Luis Rengifo, and Domingo Santana at those positions but also have publicly stated they are in the market at those positions. They also recently dealt starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Sandy Alcantara, so they may be in the market to add another starting pitcher.
Update #1:
5:52 PM - Dec 10: The Padres were rumored to have offered elite outfielder a contract worth nearly $200 million dollars over five years, however this was not enough as they were quickly outbid by the Mets. It's possible they are still in on Harper but it is unknown at this point the extent of their interest. Their free agent strategy will be interesting to watch going into the next few days, as they have $91.75m in cap room and flexible payroll. This will be updated with more rumors and updates.
7:28 PM - Dec 11: Despite having $91.75m in cap room available, they have still not added a free agent. It appears they are in on several, but have continued to be outbid. Bryce Harper officially signed with the Mets and Wil Myers signed with the Tigers. These deals marked interesting players the Padres were in on. Insider sources state they were #2 and #3 on the list of Padres targets going into free agency, so it appears likely prices are too high at the moment. They do however have a total of ~$50m a year out in offers to several players.
6:20 PM - Dec 12: The Padres have finally signed their first free agent, inking first baseman Jose Abreu to a five year contract worth $57.5M in total. They will bank on a rebound and likely move first baseman Edwin Encarnacion in another deal. They view this as an upgrade at both a backup 1B and UT over Encarnacion.
8:23 PM - Dec 13: The Padres have made another splash, adding outfielder Yasiel Puig on a 5-year, $60 million dollar contract. Puig will replace outgoing right fielder Hunter Renfroe (recently moved to the Yankees) and serve as one of the premier offensive pieces on the team.
5:30 AM - Dec 14: The Padres have signed their third free agent, outfielder Aaron Hicks to a 5-year, $49.5 million dollar deal. He will slot into the centerfield spot, and add a bit of power and speed to a dynamic outfield that already includes the recently signed Yasiel Puig, power hitter Kyle Schwarber, and Harrison Bader. The Padres finished this round off free agency with $57.35 million dollars in cap room remaining, adding three dynamic offensive players.
December 2018 Post-FA:
The Padres made an interesting move, sending first baseman Edwin Encarnacion, outfielder Domingo Santana, and pitchers Adalberto Mejia and Blake Parker to the Pirates in exchange for pitchers Ross Stripling and Jon Gray. This move adds a bit of depth and control to a rotation that was lacking back end starters.
January 2018:
The Padres acquired 2B/SS Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and cash considerations from the Houston Astros in exchange for pitchers Joe Ross, Adam Cimber, and David Hernandez. This deal adds some inexpensive infield depth to supplement young infielders Luis Urias and Luis Rengifo at the 2B position, and grabs a backup for Tim Anderson.
The team also moved relief pitcher Chaz Roe to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitching prospect Anthony Banda, which frees up a spot on the 40-man roster and saves the team a bit of cash. It also adds some depth to a system that has lost quite a bit in recent months. They also dealt $2 million dollars to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a 3rd round draft pick.
Free Agency 2018 Part 2:
Jan 04 - 4:06 PM: The Padres struck quick, adding ace Gerrit Cole on a 5-year contract, worth $20M per season. They also added reliever Justin Wilson on a 5-year deal that costs less than $1m annually. This move replenishes some of the bullpen depth lost by moving Adam Cimber and David Hernandez to the Astros the day before.
Jan 05 - 7:01 PM: The team appears close on several deals for more pitching depth. Today the club added all-star closer Craig Kimbrel on a 5-year contract worth $38 million dollars, far under expected value. Paired with Cole, the Padres staff is much improved. They also added reliever A.J. Ramos on an inexpensive 2-year contract, worth $1.6 million dollars total. The team seems intent on acquiring another starting pitcher or two via free agency as well.
Jan 06 - 7:26 PM: The San Diego Padres appear to have bowed out of the Clayton Kershaw sweepstakes. They still have about $26 million dollars in cap room, but the long term commitment to Kershaw is too steep. There have also been rumors around the acquisition of Arizona ace Jacob Degrom. The most likely option is that they will add a couple mid-tier SP in free agency.
Jan 08 - 11:40 AM: The Padres briefly re-entered the Kershaw sweepstakes only to lose out to their division rival Dodgers, who inked him to a 5-year, 138 million dollar contract. They still have approximately $27 million dollars in cap space. They also appeared close to deals with starters Sonny Gray and Alex Wood, which both appear to have fallen through. More updates to come over the next few days.
Jan 09 - 4:25 PM: The Padres did ink Alex Wood to a 5-year contract worth $9 million dollars a season. They immediately flipped Wood to the Angels in a sign-and-trade deal sending Wood and cash considerations ($8.9 million this season and $4 million next season) in exchange for top prospect Hunter Greene. This bolsters the farm and leaves about $18 million dollars in cap room for the Padres to work with. They are believed to have an offer out on pitcher Masahiro Tanaka but it is unknown how serious their bid is.
Jan 11 - 10:46 PM: The Padres inked second baseman Logan Forsythe to a 2-year contract worth $500k per season. He will provide depth at a relatively weak position.
Post FA January 2019:
The Padres had some remaining cash after their free agency, and moved about $6 million dollars and a rule V 3rd (the Rays pick) to the Red Sox in exchange for young prospect Wander Javier, marking another significant addition to a once weak farm system.
February 2019:
The Padres inked 2B Brett Lawrie to a 3-year contract, worth 900k a season and veteran reliever Aaron Loup to a 2 year, 500k per season deal. They also claimed several players off waivers, including pitcher Hector Velazquez off waivers, who they proceeded move to the Los Angeles Angels for a 7th round pick. Jimmy Yacabonis, DJ Johnson, and Adam Kolarek were the other claims.
The team traded for starting pitcher Rick Porcello and cash considerations, in exchange for prospect Tristan Beck and a 2nd round pick. This move provides a bit of depth to a rotation that is high upside but also bares high risk.
March 2019:
The Padres gained the option to ink star first-baseman Paul Goldschmidt to a 5-year extension.
May 2019:
The Padres dealt first baseman Jose Abreu to the rival San Francisco Giants with struggling relief pitcher Jimmy Yacabonis, in exchange for infielder and outfielder Chris Taylor, and young reliever Nick Anderson. This deal provides the team with future financial flexibility and some versatility offensively.
July 2019:
The Padres inked catcher Buster Posey to a three-year contract, worth $3M a season. They also participated in International Free Agency, inking shortstop Elijah Tatis (500k), infielder Michel Triana (600k), outfielder Jose Cordero (200k) and shortstop Yolbert Sanchez ($1.7M).
They also acquired designated hitter Nelson Cruz and reliever Dellin Betances for a 1st and a 3rd round draft pick. This deal adds some depth for a postseason run.
The team dealt rental closer Shane Greene to the Toronto Blue Jays for prospects Luiz Gohara and Esteury Ruiz.
The team moved centerfielder Aaron Hicks to the White Sox in exchange for infielder Gio Urshela.
August 2019:
In a shocking move, the Padres acquired starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for prospects Logan Allen, Anthony Volpe, Dakota Chalmers, and a 2nd round pick. They also added a significant amount of cash considerations in the deal.
They also acquired starter Miles Mikolas from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for prospects Noah Song and Wander Javier, as well as reliever Buck Farmer from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a 4th and a 5th round pick.
October 2019:
The Padres, coming off a heartbreaking NLCS loss, have professed a desire to redesign the team moving into next season. They started by moving veteran catcher Buster Posey to the Indians in exchange for a 3rd round rV pick. This move is the first of many to shed salary and attempt to increase the team's competitive window moving forward.
They also announced that they have inked slugging first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and pitchers Carlos Martinez and Chris Archer to extensions, avoiding free agency.
November 2019:
The Padres kicked off the month with a slurry of moves, first acquiring superstar third baseman Rafael Devers, in exchange for prospects Alec Bohm, Luis Urias, Jose Israel Garcia, Ronny Henriquez, Orlando Chivilli, and Keyber Rodriguez. Long-time third baseman Kris Bryant will move to right field, replacing Yasiel Puig who was shipped to the Brewers in exchange for catching prospect Daulton Vasho, pitching prospect Josh Wolf, and a 2020 3rd round draft pick.
They also moved star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to the Miami Marlins for prospects Leodys Taveras and Tristan McKenzie, and two draft picks. Lastly, they moved starting pitcher Chris Archer and cash considerations to the Giants in exchange for pitcher Framber Valdez.
The Padres also made a deal to acquire star second baseman Ozzie Albies in exchange for ace starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard, reliever Dellin Betances, and outfielder Kyle Schwarber. In the same deal, catcher Jonathan Lucroy went to the Cardinals and 2 5th round picks came to the Padres.
January 2020:
The Padres opened free agency by claiming second baseman Dee Gordon off of waivers, relinquishing the 4th overall slot in the waiver priority list and giving him a 1-year contract worth $4.75m, but soon after they flipped Gordon, with a 2nd and a 3rd round pick, to the Mets in exchange for center fielder Lorenzo Cain and cash considerations. They also moved a rV pick and outfielder Benyamin Bailey in separate deals for cash considerations, and acquired catcher Wilson Ramos and cash from the division rival Giants in exchange for reliever Buck Farmer and outfielder Harrison Bader.
With their savings, they inked starting pitcher Marcus Stroman to a 5-year contract, worth $50 million dollars. They appear close to finished, although they could trim payroll for 2021 by dealing Clayton Kershaw or Carlos Martinez. This could require them to add more depth to the rotation and bullpen.
In a quick series of moves, the Padres sent starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw to the rival Diamondbacks for shortstop J.P. Crawford and sent third baseman Gio Urshela to the Brewers for prospects Ke'Bryan Hayes, Brennan Malone, and Enyel De Los Santos. These moves add some young depth to the team and significantly increase payroll flexibility for 2021 and beyond.
February 2020:
The Padres claimed relief pitchers Ryne Harper and Tyler Duffey off waivers, and sent their remaining 3rd round rule V draft pick to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a 4th round amateur draft pick and pitching prospect Yadier Alvarez. They also signed IFA pitchers Henry Baez and Edwin Nunez (in June) to minor league contracts with bonuses of $100k and $3M respectively. They expressed interest in free agent reliever Tommy Kahnle. These moves exemplify a push to add pitching depth to both the major league roster and minor league ranks.
They added outfielder/first baseman Jake Bauers and cash considerations from the Blue Jays in exchange for prospect Michael Triana. In another move, they shipped prospects Sammy Siani and Ljay Newsome and a 4th round pick to the Orioles for outfielder Christin Stewart and pitcher Luis Ortiz. This adds outfield depth to a group featuring Kris Bryant, Lorenzo Cain, Lourdes Gurriel Jr, and Manuel Margot already.
May 2020:
The Padres claimed RP Jimmy Cordero off waivers.
June 2020:
The Padres claimed OF John Andreoli, RP Phillips Valdez, and RP Brendan Kline off waivers.
July 2020:
The Padres swapped draft picks (2020 5th for a 2021 5th) with the Red Sox in a small deal, and sent another 5th rounder to the Yankees for $1M in cap space. They also inked IFA P Richard Brito to a contract worth $2.6M.
August 2020:
The Padres moved towards a cost-cutting direction, hoping to retain or replace some pending free agents. They started the season by moving oft-injured pitcher Carlos Martinez to the Pirates in exchange for SP Erick Fedde and pitching prospect Jake Eder. They then flipped Eder and pitching prospect Brennan Malone to the Red Sox in exchange for a one year rental of SP Stephen Strasburg. After this, they moved SP Ross Stripling and relievers Michal Givens and Justin Wilson to the Giants for young SP Justus Sheffield. Continuing the flurry of moves, they also acquired OF Dustin Fowler from the Reds for a 7th round pick.
The next day, they swapped OF Lorenzo Cain to the Marlins for OF Yoenis Cespedes (who was shortly moved to the Rays for a 7th) and C Meibrys Viloria, claimed infielder Donovan Solano off waivers, and acquired young SP Cal Quantrill for reliever Jimmy Cordero and the team's 2022 1st round pick. They also flipped reliever Tyler Duffey for another reliever, Buck Farmer, in a quick deal with the Giants.
In another series of moves, they acquired SP Kenta Maeda and RP Javy Guerra in exchange for Marcus Stroman (in a deal that saw Jose Abreu move to the rival Giants). They also acquired outfielder Jesse Winker and rental starting pitcher Charlie Morton for catcher Salvador Perez, outfielder Manuel Margot, reliever Adam Kolarek, and a 3rd round pick. In a final move, they grabbed outfielder Josh Reddick from the Rangers for a 5th round pick.
In a curious move, they sent infield prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes to the Pirates for catching prospect Keibert Ruiz, a 3rd, and a 5th round draft pick.
They also sent starting pitcher Charlie Morton and infielder Donovan Solano to the Giants, to re-acquire starting pitcher Ross Stripling, who was flipped in a deal that essentially netted 1B/LF/UT Jose Martinez as offensive depth.
They claimed Tyler Heineman and Chadwick Tromp off waivers, and inked OF Justin Upton to a two year contract, worth $2M per season.
Deadline Day:
Moved RP Craig Kimbrel and C Wilson Ramos to the Giants for SP Williams Jerez (immediately released)
Acquired RP Tyler Kinley from Mets for 2021 7th
Acquired CL Emilio Pagan from Athletics for 2022 2nd, 2022 3rd, prospect Cory Abbott
Acquired C Tony Wolters from the Mets for 2021 7th
Acquired C Kurt Suzuki from the Orioles for prospects Davis Martin and Jake Eder
Acquired OF Jorge Soler from the Cardinals for outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and reliever Phillips Valdez
