SAN DIEGO -- On the list of the Padres’ biggest remaining needs this offseason, catcher ranks a distant third. First and foremost, they need starting pitching. One starter might be enough; two would be ideal. The Padres also need a first base/DH-type bat -- someone they can slot into the middle-third of their starting lineup. In no uncertain terms, those are the priorities. But there’s still room to improve the catching situation. The Padres should feel reasonably good about entering the season with Freddy Fermin as their projected No. 1 backstop. But it’ll be Fermin’s first crack at a starting-catcher role after years backing up Salvador Perez in Kansas City. Not to mention, very few teams rely exclusively on only one catcher. It has become a timeshare position in recent years -- and the Padres could certainly use a better complement for Fermin. Here’s where things stand: |
Fermin as the starter
Acquired amid last summer’s Trade Deadline frenzy, Fermin performed admirably down the stretch -- especially considering the rigors of learning a new staff on the fly. His .617 OPS with San Diego left something to be desired. It was well below his career .685 mark. But Fermin proved a tough out and came up with some important hits down the stretch and in the postseason. More importantly, Fermin earned solid marks for his defense. And the Padres are convinced he’ll be even better with a full offseason and Spring Training to acclimate to the pitching staff. All things considered, the Padres can feel somewhat comfortable with Fermin as their primary option. But they shouldn’t be counting on him to handle a Salvy-like workload. Think of it this way: Fermin is 1A behind the plate. So who is 1B? |
Who’s backing up?
Right now? Luis Campusano. That’s right, the one-time top prospect seems likely to get another chance to break through. But he’s running out of time. For the first time, Campusano enters a season out of Minor League options, meaning he would be exposed to waivers if he doesn’t make the roster. There’s clearly upside with Campusano’s bat. He was one of the best hitters in all of Triple-A last season, batting .336 with a 1.036 OPS. I think Campusano deserves a chance to compete for a bench spot. I just think that, by now, we know what he is defensively. There’s a reason the Padres didn’t use him at all behind the plate in his 10 big league games last year. The most realistic path to a roster spot for Campusano is as a potent righty bench bat -- and the team’s third catcher. So who’s the backup? Blake Hunt (taken by the Padres in the same Draft as Campusano before Hunt was traded to Tampa Bay) is back on a Minor League deal and will get a chance to compete. But the current catching group is crying out for one more addition. |
Who’s available?
There’s only one big-name option on the free-agent market: J.T. Realmuto. I suppose it’s possible, at the right price. But, realistically, the Padres would probably have to clear money elsewhere. (And, as a reminder, they have other, more urgent needs to address.) After Realmuto, some familiar faces pop up. Here’s the list of available catchers with positive WAR from the past two seasons: Victor Caratini, Christian Vázquez, Elias Díaz, Reese McGuire, Austin Barnes and Gary Sánchez. Caratini, Díaz and Sánchez are all former Padres. Vázquez, meanwhile, had long been linked with San Diego in potential trades. Of course, that’s another avenue the Padres could explore. General manager A.J. Preller has been quiet on the trade front this winter. Does anyone seriously think that will last until Opening Day? |
MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Who holds the Padres’ single-season record for home runs by a catcher? A. Terry Kennedy B. Mike Piazza C. Gary Sánchez D. Benito Santiago |
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CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR RANDY JONES |
Legendary Padres left-hander Randy Jones will be honored at Petco Park on Jan. 24 in a celebration of life, the team announced last week. Jones passed away in November at the age of 75. The event is free to the public, but fans interested in attending must claim tickets at www.padres.com/events. The home-plate gate will open at 10 a.m., with the celebration of life slated to begin at 11. Per a club release, current and former Padres, team executives, family members and special guest speakers will be in attendance. Jones was an inaugural member of the Padres’ Hall of Fame and spent his retirement as a fixture in the San Diego community (and at the ballpark). He posted a 3.30 ERA with 92 victories across eight seasons with the club from 1973-80 -- including two of the greatest pitching seasons in Padres history in 1975 and ‘76. He was rewarded for the latter of those seasons with the franchise’s first Cy Young Award. |
SEASON TICKETS SELL OUT (AGAIN) |
For a fourth straight year, the Padres have sold out season-ticket memberships, the team announced last week. The team, which has capped the number of season-ticket memberships available, set a record for memberships sold this year, according to a press release. Single-game tickets will be available in the coming weeks -- with the public on-sale set for Feb. 3. Season-ticket members and waitlist members, along with select suite clients, will have presale access beginning Jan. 28. |
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B. Piazza
Piazza homered 22 times for the 2006 Padres, including 20 while serving as the team’s catcher.
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