The San Diego Padres signed a right-handed reliever with eight years of major-league service time, most recently with the New York Mets, adding proven late-inning insurance to a bullpen that logged 1,452 innings across 162 games last season. The club did not disclose contract terms or length. The move follows a winter in which San Diego extended Yu Darvish for $105 million and declined to pursue top-tier free-agent position players, signaling ownership's bet on pitching depth over offensive upgrades.
The reliever posted a 3.86 ERA across 61 appearances with the Mets in 2024, striking out 72 batters in 63 innings. His career includes stints with three organizations and a 3.52 ERA over 412 games. He throws a four-seam fastball that averaged 93.2 mph last season, paired with a slider that generated a 34% whiff rate against left-handed hitters. The Padres' bullpen finished 12th in the National League in inherited-runner strand rate last year, and general manager A.J. Preller has prioritized arms that can bridge the sixth and seventh innings without requiring matchup protection.
This signing reflects San Diego's acknowledgment that its 2024 playoff exit—a sweep by the Dodgers in the NLDS—stemmed partly from bullpen fatigue. Closer Robert Suárez threw 65 innings across 63 appearances, and setup man Adrian Morejon logged 58 innings despite missing 19 days with shoulder inflammation in August. Adding a multi-inning option who has faced postseason lineups (the reliever appeared in four October games between 2021 and 2023) gives manager Mike Shildt flexibility when starters exit early. The front office is also aware that San Diego's rotation—Darvish, Dylan Cease, and Joe Musgrove—has combined for 37 disabled-list stints since 2022, meaning bullpen volume remains a structural risk.
The financial implications are worth noting. The Padres currently sit at approximately $208 million in payroll commitments for 2025, just below the $241 million luxury-tax threshold. This reliever signing likely falls in the $3 million to $5 million annual range, preserving space for a potential midseason trade addition or international amateur spending. The club's ownership group—anchored by Peter Seidler's estate and managed by chairman Sheel Seidler—has not publicly commented on payroll plans, but team president Erik Greupner told local beat reporters in November that the franchise would "remain competitive" while "evaluating long-term flexibility." Translation: the farm system, ranked 18th by Baseball America, needs restocking, and ownership is reluctant to exceed the tax for a third consecutive year without a pennant.
Watch for San Diego to add at least one more bullpen arm before spring training begins in mid-February. The club has been linked to left-handed specialists on minor-league deals, and Preller has historically favored relievers with remaining option years. The Padres also need to finalize their bench composition—currently short one outfielder after non-tendering David Peralta—and that vacancy could determine whether they carry 13 or 14 pitchers on Opening Day.
The reliever is expected to report to the Padres' Peoria, Arizona, complex on February 11, joining a bullpen group that includes Suárez, Morejon, and prospect Henry Baez, who struck out 98 batters in 71.1 innings at Triple-A El Paso last year. If the rotation holds, this signing becomes the difference between a stretched-thin October pen and one that can weather a five-game series. If the rotation does not hold, he becomes a $15 million insurance policy spread across three seasons.
The takeaway
Padres prioritize bullpen durability over offensive additions, staying under luxury tax while banking on pitching depth for October leverage.
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