Padres News: Friars Decide to Sit Out Waiver Madness, Don’t Upgrade Roster

This is a clear sign of surrender for the Padres.

Thursday could have been a big day for the San Diego Padres. 

That day was billed to be waiver wire madness after the Los Angeles Angels released six key players earlier this week, leaving multiple players for the taking including starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and relievers Matt Moore and Reynaldo Lopez. 

San Diego could have essentially had their pick of which players they wanted given that they had the 10th-worst record in MLB as of Thursday.

So what did the team currently seven and a half games back in the crowded NL Wild Card race do? 

Absolutely nothing. And I do mean absolutely nothing.

And on Aug. 31, 2023, the San Diego #Padres officially surrender.
They didn’t bother making a waiver claim.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 31, 2023

The Padres did not make one waiver claim on Thursday morning, and instead saw Giolito, Moore, and fellow reliever Reynaldo Lopez make their way to the Cleveland Guardians.

Bullpen arm Dominic Leone? He's headed to the Seattle Mariners. 

And right fielder Hunter Renfroe is going to the Cincinnati Reds. Just for a refresher, the Reds are a direct competitor to the Padres for that precious last playoff spot. Cincinnati sits just one game out of that slot as of Thursday morning. 

Yes, Renfroe wouldn't be as much of a priority from a team fit standpoint compared to Giolito for instance with Yu Darvish's current and future status both up in the air.

But the fact that the Padres did nothing when a golden opportunity presented itself? That's inexcusable. 

Sure, the odds of them roaring back to get into the postseason seem far remote at best, but the Friars could've at least tried -- and they wouldn't have had to give up anyone in the process like they would have at the August 1 trade deadline. 

This time could've been different. But it wasn't.

And that last "precious" playoff spot? To general manager AJ Preller, it doesn't seem all that precious after all. 

The fact that the Padres stood back on what could've been an impactful day for them all but confirms that.