Padres Offseason: Which Friars Are Entering Free Agency This Winter?

It'll be an interesting offseason for the Friars.

The offseason for the San Diego Padres certainly will be an interesting one. After missing out on the postseason, the Padres now have the task of trying to put a winning roster together to get back.

They have a solid core in place, but they also do have a ton of free agents this winter. So, the Padres will have some tough choices to make. They should look to build a more well-rounded roster, but it remains to be seen if that will occur.

Here is a look at who will be free agents for San Diego, and the possibility of each coming back to the team for 2024.

Blake Snell: Snell put together a season for the ages, and will likely win the National League Cy Young Award. But it’s unlikely that he will return next season because the Friars don’t want to cough up the money to pay him. It’s a very low chance he comes back, and he will get a nice payday elsewhere.

Josh Hader: Similar to Snell, Hader is unlikely to return to the team. It will leave a big hole in the San Diego bullpen, but he will also receive a solid payday from some team.

Seth Lugo: Lugo is most likely headed toward an opt-out after his strong season. He holds a player option for $7.5 million next season, and he could get a bigger deal elsewhere. Lugo posted an ERA of 3.57, and he was one of the more consistent guys for this Friars rotation. San Diego could look to retain him, but his price tag could be too high.

Michael Wacha: Wacha put up a very solid 2023 season, posting a 3.22 ERA. He gave the Friars a chance to win every time he took the mound, and that likely will see him opt out of his option. Wacha could return to the Padres, and they should try to retain him. He could help stabilize the rotation a bit, especially if Snell does indeed leave this winter.

Gary Sanchez: Sanchez cooled off a bit after a strong start to his Padres career, but the team could look to bring him back. He is a good veteran to have in the clubhouse, and he seemed to enjoy being in San Diego. Sanchez hit .217 with 19 home runs and 47 runs batted in this year.

Matt Carpenter: Carpenter was thought to be a solid signing during the offseason, but the veteran never lived up to the hype. He struggled all season, but he does have a player option for $5.5 million next season. Carpenter probably doesn’t get that much anywhere else, so he will likely opt into his option for next year.

Ji-Man Choi: Choi was acquired during the trade deadline and was absolutely awful for San Diego. It would be very shocking to see him return.

Rich Hill: Hill is in a similar boat as Choi. He was acquired to help with the postseason run, but couldn’t put things together, and it’s very unlikely he will return to the Padres.

Garrett Cooper: Cooper was brought in to help with the Padres depth down the stretch. He finished the year hitting .251 with 17 home runs and 61 runs batted in combined between his time in San Diego and Miami. There is a chance San Diego will bring him back, but they also may look elsewhere for more effective help.

Luis Garcia: Garcia posted an ERA of 4.07 this season, and with him being older, he may not be brought back. San Diego may look to find others to fill his role unless they bring him back on a cheap contract again.

Nick Martinez: He has a club option for $16 million over the next two seasons, and the team will likely decline it. They could look to bring him back but on a more team-friendly contract.

Drew Pomeranz: Pomeranz missed the last few years due to injury, so if the Padres bring him back, it’ll be on a cheap deal. He could be a solid low-risk option for the team, just to see what he can still bring to the table if he remains healthy.

Jurickson Profar: Profar returned to San Diego in the last part of the season. He brings energy and is loved within the clubhouse. Expect him back next year.