Padres News: Friars Ranked Toward Bottom Of Free Agency Destination Spots
The San Diego Padres have turned themselves into one of the premier teams in the league over the last few seasons, due to their increased spending habits. They haven't acted like a small market team, and it has seen them find success on the field for the most part.
MLB writer Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report ranked all the MLB teams in terms of free agent destination spots. San Diego came in ranked at No. 17 on the list, and it's in no small part because of their supposed salary-shedding plan for this winter.
"Reports came out in September that the Padres planned to lower their payroll down to about $200 million, or pretty much where it stands now. They may therefore have to cut before they can add."
The Padres remain one of the better destinations for free agents, but maybe not for 2024. After going all-in for 2023, the Padres plan backfired, and they missed the playoffs.
It has led to many believing that they will shed salary this winter, and that likely means they taking a step back from their recent aggressiveness. The team is expected to lose multiple starting pitcher this offseason, and they will have their work cut out for them.
"If the Padres do cut, every indication is that it will be Juan Soto who goes in a trade. Even then, the club will have its work cut out to re-sign just NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, much less Josh Hader and Michael Wacha."
San Diego is entering a crucial, yet strange offseason. They have a solid core in place on the roster, but they also know changes need to be made.
They can't continue to do business in the manner that they have been, otherwise, they will be buried in taxes. The Padres remain committed to winning in 2024 but will need to find other ways to do so. This offseason is going to tell us a lot about president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, and how creative he really can be.
