Get Up to Date with All the Latest Free Agent News for the San Diego Padres
Some say that San Diego might be one of the best places to live, not only in North America, but in the entire world. Given where it is situated, by the border with Mexico, but also next to the Pacific Ocean, it has a very favorable climate, meaning that you are almost guaranteed sunshine year round. Because of this, the people who live there are much happier and welcoming, so it is a great place to visit. With numerous great restaurants and bars too, it really is as close to perfect as a city as you’ll ever see.
If you are a baseball fan, then even better, as it is home to the San Diego Padres. Founded in 1969, they play their home games at Petco Park, a stunning stadium that is right in the heart of downtown San Diego. In their history, the Padres have won the National League twice, in 1984 and 1998, but unfortunately lost the World Series on both occasions, to the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees respectively.
The Padres began the 2021 season with optimism, hoping to make it to the playoffs at the very least, if not making it all the way to the World Series. Oddsmakers certainly liked the look of them too. They started the season in good form, so much so that baseball fans who at that time searched for MLB odds, would most likely have picked them to win their matches no matter their opposition.
Despite holding a playoff position in the Wild Card standings up until August, they faded away in the final few weeks of the season, meaning they ended up in 3rd position in the National League West, behind the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, but ahead of the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks. One positive was that Joe Musgrove threw a no-hitter, which was the first in the Padres’ history, breaking a streak of 8,205 games without one. However, this won’t offer much consolation for anyone who bet on them to make it to the postseason.
With the 2021 MLB season now over, and the 2022 campaign still 5 months away from starting, the inevitable question comes to squad depth, and the renewal of contracts. Are there any Padres players who have become free agents since the end of the year? If so, are they likely to be re-signed by the San Diego outfit, or will they move on to new pastures? Let’s have a look at a few of the players who fall into these categories.
Pham one of 3 players free to leave
There are a few players that fall under the banner of unrestricted free agents, meaning that they haven’t been offered a contract renewal, so won’t be appearing for the club again. One such player that falls into this category is outfielder Tommy Pham. Pham joined the Padres in 2019, following stints at the Tampa Bay Rays and the St Louis Cardinals. He has suffered several injuries in his time at the Padres, so it comes to no surprise that he wasn’t offered an extension. Given their options at left field, you’d think the Padres would be able to live without him.
Another player on the unrestricted free agents list is pitcher Daniel Hudson. Hudson was part of a trade which saw Mason Thompson and Jordy Barley leave the Padres to join the Washington Nationals. He suffered with COVID in August, and thus failed to make much of an impact in San Diego.
Ross Detwiler was released by the Miami Marlins in mid-September, and was snapped up by the Padres 2 days later, on a short-term deal. At 35, it must have been decided that it wasn’t worth extending beyond the end of the 2021 season.
Stammen and Johson confirmed for an extra year
There are also a few players that the Padres have an option on for an additional year, Craig Stammen was one of these players. He joined initially on a minor league contract in 2016, before being promoted to the major league squad. It was recently announced the club would be picking up his option.
Pierce Johnson was another man waiting to see if he’d be granted the 3rd year of his contract. Having played the majority of his career at the Chicago Cubs, Johnson also spent time at the Giants and in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers, before joining the Padres in 2019. He also recently confirmed he’d be staying put.
The Padres also had an option on Keone Kela, but it looks like it won’t be extended. He is another player who has had awful luck with injuries, undergoing surgery just a few months into his first season with the side.
Melancon not taking up his option
Mark Melancon had an option for another year with the Padres, but decided to decline the end of his $5 million mutual option, to become a free agent. Given he had a good season with the Padres, it will be interesting to see where he might end up in 2022.
