Tag: outfield

This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell’s Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

In the buildup to Spring Training, MLB.com is breaking down the Padres’ roster, position by position. Today’s newsletter focuses on the outfield. Previously: Catcher | 1B/DH | Infield

SAN DIEGO — A year ago, the Padres needed a borderline miracle to solve their outfield conundrum.

The Padres, as it turned out, would boast one of the sport’s best outfields in 2024, with Fernando Tatis Jr. anchoring right field — an All-Star as well.

They won’t need a miracle to fix their outfield situation in 2025. But they could certainly use some help in left, with Profar now a free agent. Before we get into details, here’s a breakdown of where the organization stands:

What’s the deal with Profar?

The fit remains pristine. The Padres need a left fielder. Profar needs a home. There’s nowhere he’d rather be, and — across 11 big league seasons — there’s nowhere he’s performed better.

And yet, a reunion seems unlikely at the moment. The Padres have major needs elsewhere on their roster, and they seem keen on remaining below the Competitive Balance Tax. Profar, meanwhile, is looking to cash in on the best season of his career (and is more than entitled to do so, particularly considering he’s yet to receive a major payday).

“He’s somebody that’s earned the right to be a free agent,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller said at the outset of the offseason. “We’ll kind of see where that takes us.”

A number of Padres have been rumored in potential trades, which could free up salary for a signing or two. But even then — considering the vacancies in their rotation — they might not spend on Profar.

A driving force on the field and in the clubhouse, Profar might be heading elsewhere in 2025 — despite the fact that both he and the Padres seemed hopeful for a reunion at season’s end.

What do the Padres have now?

Well, despite the question marks in left field, there’s no part of this roster with a brighter future than the outfield. With Merrill manning center and Tatis manning right, the Padres have two of the sport’s best players locked up for at least the next half decade. Merrill is 21 and Tatis just turned 26.

Of course, there are still questions about the shape of the Padres’ infield — including who will play shortstop next year. As I’m sure you’re aware, both Merrill and Tatis were lifelong shortstops before moving to the outfield. Any shot one of them might return?

Almost certainly not, according to Preller, who, asked earlier this winter, summed it up thusly: “They’re really good at what they do in the outfield.” True enough. And Preller has consistently espoused the need for elite defenders in both right and center field at spacious Petco Park.

As things currently stand on the 40-man roster, that leaves the lefty-hitting Ornelas and the righty-hitting Lockridge in something of a platoon. That seems very likely to change by the start of the season.

Lockridge is a perfectly useful bench piece, considering his ability to defend and steal bases. Ornelas, who has endured a number of ups and downs in six Minor League seasons, appears to be on an upward trajectory again. Both might crack the Opening Day roster.

But that doesn’t change the fact that the Padres need a viable starting left fielder, whether it’s Profar or someone else. They also need to replace the bench production of Peralta, which was hugely valuable in 2024.

If you’re looking for long-term outfield anchors, there aren’t many better than Tatis and Merrill. Still, without Profar — or a replacement for Profar — this San Diego outfield is glaringly incomplete.

Their lineup is, too. Profar emerged as a force toward the top of the Padres’ order last season, reaching base at a .380 clip. As things stand, the 2025 offense should be solid enough. But it’s presently worse than it was in 2024 following a handful of departures — Profar the most notable among them.

Aside from catcher, there aren’t many other obvious places the Padres will be looking to add. If they’re going to give this lineup a boost, adding a bopper in left field is the best way to do so — whether that left fielder is Profar or somebody else.