In some ways, he feels like a perfect Brewer -- versatile, pesky, a threat on the bases. Their loss has been the Padres’ gain.
4. The Padres hope the same is true for Hays
The decision to sign Austin Hays to a Major League deal felt like a no-brainer -- and that was before his pinch-hit, two-run homer in Sunday’s series finale against the Astros. The Padres were keen to add an outfield bat at the Deadline but instead opted to allocate all of their resources to the starting rotation.
Fair enough. The need was much greater in the rotation. But left field has been a bit tricky. Especially against left-handed pitching. Rengifo is probably better suited playing elsewhere. Jase Bowen wasn’t doing enough at the plate.
Enter Hays, who had a .945 OPS against left-handers across the 2024 and ’25 seasons.
“You could argue you should trade somebody -- and we didn’t have to trade anybody to get him,” Stammen said.
Look, it’s been a stop-and-start season for Hays, who has dealt with multiple leg injuries and only played 12 games with the White Sox before he was designated for assignment. But after finishing his rehab stint, Hays says he’s fully healthy (and now very eager to build on his streak of three straight playoff appearances with three different teams).
Maybe it doesn’t work out in the long run. But the fit is so obvious, and it’s such a low-risk move, you do it 10 times out of 10.
5. No Miz this week -- the Padres need to capitalize
Jacob Misiorowski, the National League Cy Young Award favorite, started Sunday for the Brewers. That means the Padres don’t have to face him. And, no, the Padres won’t be throwing their ace, Michael King. But they’ll take that trade-off.
At this time of year, any little advantage counts. If you’re the type who pays attention to playoff odds, you’re noticing much bigger day-to-day swings in those odds. (I am that type, not because they’re gospel, just because they’re fun.)
The Padres should like their chances this week, with their revamped rotation and without the task of taking down the Miz. They can worry about that -- or at least they hope -- come October.
