A season that began with so much hope came to a disappointing end for the San Diego Padres on Thursday night. After winning 90 games — the first time the club has won 90 or more for a second straight season — they saw their campaign come to an unceremonious end in the Wild Card round of the MLB Playoffs against the Chicago Cubs.
Now, general manager AJ Preller will have to figure out how to tweak the roster this offseason to get them closer to being a title contender in 2026. But they will likely have to do it without Michael King, Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Ryan O’Hearn, and Luis Arraez, who will likely all depart in free agency.
However, San Diego still has a strong core and may just need a few key pieces to be an elite team again in the National League next season. Let’s look at seven impact veterans the team could target this offseason.
Ryan Helsley
Two seasons ago, Ryan Helsley was viewed as one of the elite closers in the game. However, an awful last two months with the New York Mets likely hurt his value going into the offseason. After trading for Mason Miller, the Pads have a closer. But they need more big late-inning arms. The 31-year-old would certainly be that.
Or, if the Padres felt moving Miller to the rotation was in their best interest, Helsley would be a good closer option without a high price tag.
Bo Bichette
Even with several veterans likely to depart in free agency, the Padres still have some hefty contracts on their payroll. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean Preller would not snoop around some of the bigger names available this winter. That is why Toronto Blue Jays star Bo Bichette might be an option.
The two-time All-Star has a worrisome injury history, but he is only 27 and one of the best offensive shortstops in the game. He would bring extra thump to the lineup and set up a nasty core-four of Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Bichette for the next half-decade.
Jordan Montgomery
Joe Musgrove should be back next season, and they will still have Yu Darvish and Nick Pivetta. So San Diego just needs some good veteran arms to fill out the starting rotation. That is where Jordan Montgomery could come into play. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in March, he should be back next season.
Could he disappoint? Yes. But he will also come at a very affordable rate. The Padres won’t need Montgomery to be an ace. Just a solid fourth or fifth starter. The eight-year veteran could end up being a steal — look at Lucas Giolito in Boston this season — at a bargain rate coming off TJS this offseason.
Marcell Ozuna
Preller will surely be on the hunt for a veteran bat to hit out of the DH spot with O’Hearn, Arraez, and Gavin Sheets, not a guarantee to be back next year. One interesting option that will be available this winter is three-time All-Star Marcell Ozuna. The 34-year-old is showing the signs of age, but even in a down year, he still hit 21 home runs. He is an impact player who should be in the Pads price range this winter.
Lucas Giolito
After missing all of the 2024 season for Tommy John surgery, Lucas Giolito had a very nice bounce-back season as he went 10-4 with a 3.41 ERA for a surprise Boston Red Sox team. The one-time All-Star won’t come cheap, but he would be a solid replacement for King or Cease next season.
Kenley Jansen
The Padres need more proven late-inning arms to set up Mason Miller next season. One intriguing option who could fit that bill without being too expensive is four-time All-Star Kenley Jansen. Even at 37 years old, he had a strong season for the Los Angeles Angels in 2025. Posting a 2.59 ERA with 29 saves. He should be near the top of Preller’s wish list this offseason.
Starling Marte
With DH likely to be a priority in MLB free agency, another worthwhile option for the Padres would be two-time All-Star and 14-year veteran Starling Marte. His best days are well behind him, but in a similar role last season with the Mets, he posted a .270/.335/.410/.745 slahline with nine homers in 98 games.
