Padres Unsurprisingly Extend Qualifying Offers to Top Two Free Agents

Not much of a surprise here.

In one of the more unsurprising moves of the offseason from the San Diego Padres, the team officially extended qualifying offers to their top two free agents. Starting pitcher Blake Snell and closer Josh Hader will now have time to either accept or decline the offer that would pay them $20.325 million in 2024. 

Padres extend qualifying offers to Josh Hader, Blake Snell https://t.co/9AhOtIHqAD

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) November 6, 2023

Both players are expected to decline the offer to become free agents on the open market with massive paydays in mind. Assuming that they don't resign with the Padres, San Diego will receive compensation picks for the amateur draft in July.

Neither Snell nor Hader is expected to resign with the Padres, so San Diego should be getting some extra draft selections next summer. The Padres haven't seemed to have any interest in retaining either player at the financial compensation that it would take, which will leave them with two massive holes to fill.

Snell is in line to win the National League Cy Young Award this season after an incredible year. He posted an ERA of 2.25 this year and a WHIP of 1.19. Snell also added in 234 strikeouts over 180 innings of work.

He was pretty much unhittable at times this season, and it should result in him landing a huge contract. Even if it isn't with San Diego, the Padres will always remember his dominant 2023 season.

As for Hader, he was once again one of the better closers in the game. He posted an ERA of 1.28 and a WHIP of 1.10 for the year.

Assuming he leaves, the Padres will miss his reliability late in games. Hader had 33 saves this year for San Diego, so they will need to figure something out.

This is the first of many moves for the Padres this winter as they look to get themselves back into playoff contention.