Jessica: If you’re a San Diego Padres fan, your phone is probably blowing up right now with one question: who comes next? We just watched the team finish 91-71, take the NL West, and fall short in the playoffs despite eight players landing on the 60-Day IL. But the real story isn’t what happened—it’s what happens when free agency opens November 2nd.
Mark: That’s right. We’ve got a massive mailbag episode today. We’re diving into the biggest questions facing the front office, looking at the depth chart battles for second base and catcher, and answering your burning questions about whether this roster can actually make noise next year.
Jessica: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, I’m Jessica.
Mark: And I’m Mark. Today we’re tackling three things: first, the hot stove strategy and where Michael King and Sonny Gray fit into the mix; second, the internal competition at second base and behind the plate; and third, a lightning round of quick takes on the offseason outlook.
Jessica: Let’s get into it. First question from Sarah in Phoenix. She asks: 'The headlines say Michael King and Sonny Gray are among 14 MLB players becoming free agents. Do either of them make sense for San Diego?' Mark, you know the rotation needs work.
Mark: Absolutely. Sarah, this is the headline story. We talked yesterday about the need for a veteran starter, and both King and Gray are exactly that. Sonny Gray brings elite command and experience. Michael King has been back from injury but still possesses high-end stuff. For a team coming off an NLDS exit, stability in the rotation is non-negotiable.
Jessica: Right. And let’s not forget the rest of the starting staff. We have Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta, JP Sears, and Randy Vasquez. Adding one of these two veterans would solidify the top of the rotation significantly.
Mark: Exactly. It’s about innings and quality starts. If they bring in a guy like Gray, he eats innings and keeps the game low-scoring, which plays perfectly into the hands of their bullpen.
Jessica: Okay, moving to another big name. David from Chicago asks: 'With Mason Miller leading the bullpen, do they need more arms, or is the relief corps set?'
Mark: Good question, David. Mason Miller is an ace in the ninth. But look at the list: Jhony Brito, Griffin Canning, Jeremiah Estrada, Kyle Hart, Garrett Hawkins, Yuki Matsui, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta, Bradgley Rodriguez, Hunter Stratton. That’s a deep group, but some of those names are young or unproven in high-leverage spots. I’d say yes, they might want one more reliable arm, maybe a left-handed specialist, to bridge the gap between Miller and the middle relievers.
Jessica: It’s a lot of bodies. But depth is good, right? Especially after dealing with so many injuries last season.
Mark: Depth is good, but consistency is better. You don’t want to be guessing who closes out the eighth inning every night. If they can add a proven veteran reliever, that helps immensely.
Jessica: Alright, let’s pivot to the infield. @PadresFan99 in San Diego wants to know: 'Who wins second base next year? Is it Jake Cronenworth, or does someone else break through?'
Mark: @PadresFan99, great question. Jake Cronenworth is a safe bet. He’s consistent, knows the system, and provides solid defense. But there’s competition. You’ve got Mason McCoy and Sung-Mun Song also in the mix. If Song or McCoy show power potential in spring training, they could push for playing time. But unless something drastic happens, Cronenworth is likely the everyday guy.
Jessica: Makes sense. And what about third base? Manny Machado is locked in, obviously.
Mark: Manny is Manny. No debate there. Gage Workman is there as depth, but he’s not challenging Manny’s spot.
Jessica: Okay, let’s take a quick breath here. Before we dive into the catching battles and our final segment, we need to talk about keeping this show going. This podcast is free because of fans like you. If you found value in our breakdown of the free agent targets and roster depth, please consider supporting us. It helps us keep the lights on and the analysis daily. Just click the link in the episode description to help out. Thanks for listening.
Mark: Thanks for the support, everyone. Now, let’s get to the catcher situation. Lisa in Los Angeles asks: 'With Luis Campusano, Freddy Fermin, and Ethan Salas, how does the catching hierarchy look?'
Jessica: Oh, this is a fun one. Three catchers on the roster! Luis Campusano is the incumbent. He’s had ups and downs, but he’s the most experienced.
Mark: Campusano is the guy to beat. Freddy Fermin is a defensive wizard and a great glove-to-pitching coach type. Ethan Salas is the young prospect with huge upside. If Salas dominates in Arizona, he could force the issue. But for now, it’s Campusano vs. Fermin for the primary role, with Salas as the long-term heir apparent.
Jessica: So, it’s a competition. That’s healthy. Does that mean Campusano could be traded if Salas breaks out?
Mark: Anything is possible in baseball. If Salas shows he’s ready, and Campusano struggles, then yeah, the trade market is always open. But right now, they have options, which is a luxury.
Jessica: Let’s move to the outfield. Brian in Denver asks: 'Jackson Merrill is the centerfielder, but who’s the everyday right fielder? Is it Fernando Tatis Jr. or Jase Bowen?'
Mark: Brian, this is clear. Fernando Tatis Jr. is the right fielder. He’s a superstar. Jase Bowen is depth. Dustin Harris and Samad Taylor are in left/center mix, but Tatis is the anchor in right.
Jessica: Right. So the core is set. Tatis, Machado, Cronenworth, Campusano, Merrill. That’s a strong foundation.
Mark: It is. The question is, can they add enough to make it a contender again? Because last year, injuries derailed them.
Jessica: True. Eight players on the 60-Day IL. That’s brutal. How do they prevent that next year?
Mark: By adding depth. By managing workload better. And by having a deeper bench so when someone gets hurt, it’s not catastrophic.
Jessica: Okay, let’s wrap up this segment with one more question from @SDBallFan in San Diego. 'What’s the biggest risk for the Padres in 2027?'
Mark: The biggest risk is health. Again. If Tatis or Machado miss significant time, the ceiling drops dramatically. Also, if they don’t address the rotation, they could be stuck in the same spot as this year.
Jessica: Health and pitching. Got it. Let’s head to our final segment for some quick takes and a hypothetical.
Jessica: Lightning round! First question: 'Who is the Mr. October candidate for the Padres next year?'
Mark: Jackson Merrill. He’s young, he’s explosive, and he’s just getting started. If he hits his stride in October, he could be the face of the franchise.
Jessica: I love that. Second question: 'Hypothetical: If the Padres sign BOTH Michael King and Sonny Gray, does that make them a World Series favorite?'
Mark: No. They’d be a contender, but not a favorite. The Brewers won the World Series last year. They’re still loaded. The Dodgers, Yankees, Astros—those teams have more depth. But the Padres would definitely be in the mix.
Jessica: Fair point. Last quick take: 'Will Xander Bogaerts still be with the team?'
Mark: Xander Bogaerts is listed on the roster. Unless he requests a trade or retires, he’s likely still there. But the brief doesn’t mention his contract status beyond being on the roster, so we’ll assume he’s part of the plan.
Jessica: Okay, final question from @BrewersBeat in Milwaukee. 'Do you think the Brewers will defend their title?'
Mark: They’re always a threat. They won the World Series. They have a strong core. But no team is invincible. The Padres will try to knock them off the pedestal.
Jessica: Alright, that’s our mailbag. Let’s recap. We discussed free agent targets like Michael King and Sonny Gray, looked at the second base and catching battles, and answered your questions about the 2027 outlook.
Mark: We projected 98 wins for 2027 if they sign that veteran starter. We’ll see if they pull the trigger. The key is health and rotation stability.
Jessica: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. Share it with a fellow Padres fan!
Mark: Keep cheering loud. Go Padres.
Jessica: This is the Beatline Podcast Network. We’ll see you tomorrow.