Joe Musgrove Has High Expectations for Padres' Young Starting Pitchers

San Diego's rotation will be looking very different next season.

Starting pitcher Joe Musgrove has high expectations for the Padres' young players. Multiple veterans have found new teams already this offseason, including Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo. Closer Josh Hader and reigning Cy Young award winner Blake Snell could soon follow. 

Given their budget constraints — slugger Juan Soto was also traded in a cost-cutting move — the Padres might replace their veterans with younger, more affordable pitchers. 

“I think with the guys being traded at a young age, there’s a lot of motivation to have a fresh start and make a good first impression, so I think these guys are gonna be fired up and motivated to come into spring and make a team.”

.@itsFatherJoe44 is feeling confident about young arms like Matt Waldron and Michael King stepping up for the #Padres. @Padres pic.twitter.com/xvEKApSPT2

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 23, 2023

If the Padres have any hope of competing this coming season, they are going to need their young pitchers to step up. Starters Yu Darvish and Musgrove are the two veterans on the squad. They will have to lead by example. 

Michael King, 28, was the headlining piece of the Juan Soto trade package, and he is expected to step right in for San Diego. The right-hander was great with the New York Yankees last season, posting an ERA of 2.75 over 104.2 innings of work.

He can be used either in the starting rotation or out of the bullpen. King has been used in both roles before, and could also become a multi-inning reliever for the Padres. He'll likely be a starter, but they might work him up to that role throughout the season. 

The biggest issue for the Padres is that both Darvish and Musgrove ended the 2023 season injured, so they will be hoping that the same doesn't happen next year. Other than King, there are no experienced starters in the organization. 

Matt Waldron, 27, was with San Diego last season and made his major league debut after four minor league seasons. In eight appearances, Waldron posted an ERA of 4.35 and a WHIP of 1.23. He struck out 31 batters over 41.1 innings of work. The team is very high on his upside, and he will be a relied-upon member of the staff this coming year.

Other starters who could make their debuts in 2024 include Jhony Brito, 25, a right-hander acquired in the Soto trade, and Jay Groome, a 25-year-old left-hander who had an 8.55 ERA in 30 starts at Triple-A El Paso in 2023.