The Padres signed Espada to a minor-league contract Saturday that includes an invitation to spring training, MiLB Central reports. Espada appeared in one game with the Padres in 2023 before spending the 2024 season with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball. Slated to turn 28 in February, Espada has a career 26.6 percent strikeout rate at the minor-league level.
Heavy on Padres
San Diego Padres news, rumors, and information.
Latest Padres News Alerts
The Padres signed Espada to a minor-league contract Saturday that includes an invitation to spring training, MiLB Central reports. Espada appeared in one game with the Padres in 2023 before spending the 2024 season with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball. Slated to turn 28 in February, Espada has a career 26.6 percent strikeout rate at the minor-league level.
The Padres could move Morejon into the rotation next season. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. The Padres currently have only three starters locked into their 2025 rotation in Dylan Cease, Michael King and Yu Darvish, and they're entertaining trade offers on Cease. Morejon thrived out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.83 ERA and 71:21 K:BB over 63.2 innings. However, he has past starting experience and throws five pitches, so stretching him out would make sense. What role the Padres ultimately decide on for Morejon could depend largely on what moves president of baseball operations A.J. Preller makes this winter.
The Padres re-signed McCoy to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Russell Dorsey of Yahoo Sports reports. McCoy was non-tendered by San Diego last month but now returns as a spring training invitee. The utility player put up a .523 OPS in 19 games with the Padres in 2024.
The Padres signed Gonzalez to a minor-league contract Tuesday. Gonzalez spent all of the 2024 season in the minors, slashing .294/.333/.469 with eight homers and seven steals in 78 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization. Slated to turn 27 in January, Gonzalez hit .269/.299/.413 over 145 contests with the Guardians from 2022-23.
Wade signed a one-year, $900,000 contract with the Padres on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. Wade struggled at the big-league level in 2024, slashing just .217/.285/.239 across 155 plate appearances. However, the Padres will keep him around for another year to serve as bench depth, and the 29-year-old will earn a $50,000 raise in the process.
Brooks signed a minor-league contract with the Padres on Wednesday. Brooks struggled in his first 12 games as a big-leaguer, going just 3-for-25 with an RBI and six strikeouts with the Giants last year. However, he slashed .302/.410/.453 with 58 RBI over 407 plate appearance in the minors, which is good enough for the Padres to bring him in as organizational depth at first base.
Peralta exercised his $4.25 million player option for 2025 on Saturday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Peralta turned in a 3.99 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 38.1 frames in 2024, and he'll now receive a $900,000 raise by accepting the first of three player options on his deal with the Padres. He will presumably continue to be used in high-leverage situations.
Arraez underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports. Arraez initially injured the thumb back in late June but played through the issue for the remainder of the season. The expectation is that he will be ready for the start of spring training. Arraez will be eligible for salary arbitration for the final time this offseason.
Unlock the latest San Diego Padres news — direct to your inbox.
More From Heavy on Padres
-
Cubs’ Trash Becomes Padres’ Treasure: ‘Filthy’ Jeremiah Estrada Sets MLB Record
Following a 5-year stint bouncing around the minors, former sixth-round pick Jeremiah Estrada finally got a small taste of the big leagues with the Chicago Cubs.During his five 2022 appearances, the 6’1″/185 lb righthanded reliever flashed a glimpse of his swing-and-miss stuff. The Indio, California native hit the Cubs’ mound again in 2023, and despite a […]
-
Padres Offer Update on Xander Bogaerts’ Shoulder Injury: ‘It’s Positive’
-
Padres ‘In Talks’ to Reunite With Former Outfielder: Report
-
MLB Insider Connects the Padres to Dylan Cease
-
Padres’ SS Ha-Seong Kim ‘Drawing Strong Interest’ In Trade Talks
-
Padres Land Switch-Hitting Outfielder On $1 Million Deal
The San Diego Padres have signed Jurickson Profar to a one-year deal, finally adding a third outfielder to their 40-man roster.
-
Padres ‘Keeping Tabs on Rotation Depth’ Before Opening Day: Reports
-
It’s a Quiet Offseason In San Diego, Despite Roster Holes