2023-24 MLB Offseason Recap: San Diego Padres

After returning to the postseason in 2022, the Padres had great expectations heading into last season. However, a less-than-stellar 2023 campaign and a mandate to cut payroll led to a significant shakeup. Here’s our Padres offseason recap.

Notable Additions

The Padres entered the offseason in a tight position, as San Diego was set to lose several key starters due to payroll constraints. San Diego solved that problem but it came at a price.

In a megadeal that saw one of the team’s stars head to The Bronx, San Diego acquired young righties Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito, as well as Michael King. King pitched very well after a move to the bullpen in late August, as he struck out 48 over 38.1 innings from August 24 onward.

San Diego also needed to add to the bullpen and did so by adding another former Yankee in Wandy Peralta. Additionally, Woo Suk Go and Yuki Matsui, both of whom were closers overseas in Korea and Japan, respectively, joined the Padres.

Now, a look at the subtractions part of the Padres offseason recap.

Notable Subtractions

It was expected that the Padres would cut payroll after the 2023 campaign and that happened. But, it came at a cost.

Out of the top ten in bWAR among Padres players last season, six are no longer with the team. That group includes reigning NL Cy Young winner Blake Snell, reliever Josh Hader, Michael Wacha, and Juan Soto.

Soto was packaged along with Trent Grisham to pick up Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito, and prospect Drew Thorpe.

Additionally, the Padres lost valuable reliever Nick Martinez and starter Seth Lugo, the latter of whom pitched very well after he returned to the rotation in 2023.

What to Expect in 2024

The Padres came into last season with World Series aspirations, yet failed to make the playoffs. Granted, one could argue the Padres were unlucky, to say the least.

San Diego had a 92-70 Pythagorean win-loss record in a season where the Padres finished 82-80. Not to mention, the Padres went 9-23 in one-run games.

Despite a strong group on paper and a very good pitching staff, the Padres’ big bet didn’t work out.

The Padres still have a strong top-of-the-rotation, as well as a good lineup that will take a hit without Juan Soto. It won’t be easy to deal with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers, two strong teams, but the Padres have at least put themselves in a position to re-calibrate for the coming years with the Soto trade and some highly talented prospects on the way.