Marco Gonzales: Everything you need to know

The Padres reassigned Gonzales to minor-league camp Saturday. Gonzales signed with San Diego on a minor-league contract in late January. The Padres had an open competition for their final two Opening Day rotation spots this spring, but Gonzales failed to make an intriguing case, posting an ugly 10.80 ERA, 2.55 WHIP and 13:9 K:BB over 13.1 innings. The 34-year-old missed all of last season while recovering from flexor tendon repair surgery in his left forearm, and given his results this spring, it's clear he hasn't yet fully shaken off the rust.

The Padres signed Gonzales to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. Gonzales will receive $1.5 million if in the majors, with an additional $1 million available in incentives. The lefty went unsigned while missing the entire 2025 season following flexor tendon surgery, but he should be fully recovered from that operation and enter spring training without major restrictions. Gonzales -- who turns 34 in February -- hasn't pitched in a game setting since Aug. 2024, so he'll surely need some time in the minors. He holds a career 4.16 ERA over 170 appearances (162 starts) at the major-league level.

The Pirates declined Gonzales' (forearm) $15 million club option for 2025 on Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Gonzales will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after having flexor tendon surgery in September, so declining the option was a given. He'll enter free agency as he continues the rehab process.