In order to improve on their 2025 finish, the San Diego Padres will likely have to rely on development from within. That is due to the amount of talent they lost this offseason, headlined by All-Star-caliber players like Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez and Ryan O’Hearn. While all four had their share of struggles at different points of their tenure with the Padres, they all ended up contributing to a team that made the postseason in 2025.
Now, the Padres have gone out and tried to replace them at a fraction of the price. Their biggest move of the offseason was re-signing starting pitcher Michael King, who can now opt out after 2026 if he has a strong season with the Padres. Despite King’s return, the starting rotation is still a question mark for the Padres, and the most recent development has not provided good news for San Diego.
San Diego Padres Get Bad News on Matt Waldron
Starting pitcher Matt Waldron, who has made 33 starts with the Padres in three seasons, has been shut down according to The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee. He posted on X, “Matt Waldron has been shut down. Had a procedure for an infection in his “rear end,” according to Padres manager Craig Stammen. Waldron is “week to week.” Going to be far more difficult for him to make starting rotation out of camp.” Acee later clarified that Waldron had hemorrhoid surgery.
Waldron failed to make much of an impact during the 2025 season as he made only one appearance for the Padres that season. However, he was a key member of the 2024 Padres. He even had a stretch of the season where he posted a 2.72 ERA over 13 starts while going 5-4.
The Padres pitcher has become famous for his knuckleball, as it is his primary pitch in his arsenal. However, during his 2026 spring training appearance where he pitched two innings and allowed only one hit, he displayed some improvement on his fastball. In his career, his fastball has typically averaged 90-91 mph, but he averaged 93.3 in his last outing.
Unfortunately, the injury may prove costly for Waldron as he is out of minor league options. If he does not make the team, he will hit the waiver wire.
Padres Rotation
Waldron is one of the pitchers who is fighting for one of the last spots in the starting rotation. Also fighting for those spots are pitchers JP Sears, Triston McKenzie and Walker Buehler.
Sears was acquired in the Mason Miller trade last season. He was originally a member of the rotation as he made five starts, but after struggling with a 5.47 ERA he was demoted to the minor leagues. McKenzie and Buehler are both pitchers who have had strong seasons at the MLB level, but have both struggled recently.
Buehler has twice finished top 10 in Cy Young voting, but has a 4.83 ERA since 2022. McKenzie, who previously worked with Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla, had a 2.96 ERA in the 2022 season, but has since posted a 5.46 ERA.
Padres Get Bad Injury News on Starting Pitcher Ahead of MLB Season