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2026 Padres Season
#71 · October 4, 2025, 10:47 am
At age 32, O'Hearn is probably looking for his last big multi-year contract, however, he is not a big HR hitter nor a high average hitter, has little speed and is only average on defense. If the Padres are able to offer him a 2-year contract with a player option for 2027 for about 12M, he might accept that. Despite his All-star appearance in 2025, don't think the demand for O'Hearn will be that high and he might not get an offer until late 2025/early 2026.
For our RH hitting option off the bench, I would advocate signing Padres fan favorite Ty France, who could be a low cost option for the back-up 1b/DH role (in an emergency, could play 3b for a short period of time). A fairly reliable bat and a good club house presence. Got my fingers crossed he returns.
Sheets will have to prove that what we saw for the most part in 2025 is repeatable. Haven't seen arbitration estimates yet, but don't think the Padres will offer him that big a jump in arbitration - maybe under 3M from the 1.6M he got this year. Unfortunately, he was streaky like many of the Padres hitters.
#72 · October 4, 2025, 11:57 am
If we consider a few more rest days and a few less injury days from the corps of Machado, Bogaerts, Cronenworth and Tatis, Jr., the biggest boost to the offense will be the expected almost full year performances of Merrill and Laureano and 75-80% catching load that Fermin will handle. If the 8th bat is Sheets, that is already stronger than we started out 2025 with Heyward, Joe and/or Gurriel. I'm still penciling in Campusano as a low cost back-up catcher/dh and 1b option but we would need at least one versatile infielder middle infielder and at least one other OF to fill out the 13 position player part of the roster.
Johnson played over his head offensively in 2025 but really looking at a FA option who could regularly play either 1b or OF, thus keeping Sheets in the DH role. Not sure McCoy and Wagner are our best options off the bench, so again looking for at least one FA less costly middle infielder who could be a semi-regular to spell Machado, Bogaerts and/or Cronenworth without the huge offensive drop we had with Iglesias this year - decent defensively but maybe at least a 625 OPS and 80+ wRC+ (Iglesias ended up at 592/73 for 3M). It should be interesting to see who Preller gets to fill these roles and how much money he'll have to do it. As indicated above, I advocate O'Hearn and France for two of these offensive positions.
#73 · October 4, 2025, 12:20 pm
Agree on your thought on France and Sheets.
O'Hearn could go a couple of ways. Looking at his past three seasons he is around a 1.5-2 WAR player per year and about 120 wRC+ (pretty consistent) ...not considering anything else that could suggest a $12-16MM salary. What might push against that is he is a 1B/DH without great power (15-20 HR type) and those are not necessarily in great demand (at that price). Age 32 might limit the years he could command.
Now from the Padres view ... they NEED a 9th bat and a legit 1B (he is better defensively than Sheets) and that need will not be filled internally for years. Is there a better / cheaper FA that they MIGHT be able to sign? Don't see it. Padres have no trade chips for a "quality" alternative.
In a game of alternatives for both O'Hearn and the Padres ... coming together on a deal might just fit best for both. If they can get together on maybe a 3 year deal (remember 2027 lockout makes 2 year deal questionable) and if guaranteed could get him at the lower end of the potential range. Preller is creative so player options and incentive clauses could be in play.
Bottom line is that I have no confidence the Padres can come up with an equal 9th bat at a lesser cost and O'Hearn and hard to see a market for O'Hearn that will do much better that a fair Padre offer. Makes for a legit negotiation.
#74 · October 4, 2025, 12:28 pm
Along the lines of bringing Padres' FA back ... I would make a real effort to re-sign Iglesias as the back-up INF. He made $3MM this year and at age 35 might be happy to return at that price.
His defense still plays up ... covers 3B/SS/2B ... at least useful at the plate ... apparently a real leader in the clubhouse.
Sort of like O'Hearn ... in house alternatives are limited to McCoy / Wagner who are more AAA players ... can they find one (or two) INF FA better / cheaper? Have any trade chips to get better / cheaper? With those options ... Iglesias is looking good.
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Randy Manese
#75 · October 4, 2025, 3:28 pm
If we are able to land O'Hearn as the 9th bat, then our bench could be Campusano, Johnson, Iglesias and France. That's a heavily RH hitting group, but the bench could include Sheets and possibly O'Hearn against certain LH pitching which gives us the flexibility to use France and/or Campusano as dh/1b types. If we can get these 4 for under 6M we might be able to afford O'Hearn. If we don't get O'Hearn, we certainly will be looking for a #9 bat for about the same amount of money or less. I like this mix.
The key, as everyone knows, is what will our rotation be and how much money will be in the budget to make all the necessary moves to happen. Exercising the Laureano option, re-signing King and arbitration settlements for Adam and Morejon will eat up most of the room we have under the first tier (244.0M) of the 2026 CBT, however, keep in mind that Miller and Fermin will also be up for large raises so it will not be easy. Fingers crossed Preller can make it all happen.
#76 · October 4, 2025, 4:35 pm
Let’s move this discussion to the new Offseason thread.
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Randy Manesefenn68
#77 · October 4, 2025, 4:42 pm
The arbs for Miller and Fermin will be an interesting call. Both are "super two" as top 22% players with 2-3 years time ... both are elite BUT this becomes the first for 4 arbitrations and early arbitrations decisions are normally not all that big ... so, maybe in that $2-3MM range each? Note that Merrill (in his new contract) agreed to $2.1MM for his 3rd year (that would have been his super two) and could (should) serve as a guideline.
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MrPadre19
#78 · November 4, 2025, 12:26 pm
Yu Darvish had surgery to repair his UCL in his right elbow.
Will miss the 2026 season
🙄