Padres de San Diego Eyes 2025 Season with Ambitious Goals to End Title Drought
SAN DIEGO – While the 2024 season didn’t wrap up as hoped, the Padres made significant strides as an organization. After a disappointing previous year, San Diego reemerged as a true contender and one of the most well-rounded teams in baseball.
“We have a great group of guys coming back, who are having strong, productive offseasons and are excited for the opportunity in 2025,” said manager Mike Shildt at the Winter Meetings. “It’s really exciting for us. Now it’s up to [general manager A.J. Preller] and the front office to fill in the remaining pieces.”
Shildt added, “We know most teams can’t just bring back the same roster, which is typical in this industry. But our core is intact, and we’re excited for a solid offseason.”
Here’s a glimpse into what 2025 could hold:
Potential Free-Agent Target: Roki Sasaki
The Padres have several areas of need, but securing 23-year-old Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki could be a game-changer for their 2025 plans.
Sasaki was posted in early December and is expected to sign when the international signing period opens in mid-January. There are many reasons why he could be an ideal fit for San Diego. Sasaki is seeking a competitive team, and his agent has indicated he may prefer to sign with a small- or mid-market club. San Diego’s strong connections with Japan and its reputation for developing pitchers, especially under pitching coach Ruben Niebla, make the Padres a promising destination for Sasaki.
While the Padres still need a corner bat, a catcher, and possibly another starter, Sasaki would be a perfect addition to a rotation that has some uncertainties.
Player to Watch: Jeremiah Estrada
Has Estrada already broken out? In a way, yes. He set strikeout records, delivered critical postseason innings, and was a standout waiver claim during the offseason.
Estrada looks poised to continue his rise in 2025. With a fastball that reaches elite speeds, a sharp slider, and a devastating “chitter” changeup/splitter, Estrada could become one of the most dominant relievers in the league. The Padres’ bullpen is already among the best in baseball, with Robert Suarez and Jason Adam returning after excellent seasons. However, Estrada might just emerge as the most formidable arm in the back end of the bullpen.
Prospects to Watch: Kash Mayfield, Boston Bateman, Humberto Cruz
This one’s a bit of a cheat—rather than a single player, the Padres’ “prospects to watch” are a trio of pitchers. Following a series of trades in 2024, San Diego needs to rebuild its farm system. Mayfield (25th overall), Bateman (52nd overall), and Cruz, signed out of Mexico, could play a key role in that effort. They rank as the Padres’ Nos. 3, 4, and 5 prospects, respectively, according to MLB Pipeline, and they might all start 2025 together in a rotation at Single-A Lake Elsinore.
The Padres’ top-tier prospects remain catcher Ethan Salas (No. 1, No. 19 overall) and shortstop Leodalis De Vries (No. 2, No. 28 overall), and while their potential is widely recognized, the team will need a deeper pipeline. Mayfield, Bateman, and Cruz represent the future of the Padres’ pitching staff.
One Bold Prediction for 2025: Postseason Return
The Padres have struggled to build on strong seasons in recent years. After reaching the playoffs in 2020 and 2022, they suffered disappointing seasons in 2021 and 2023.
But 2025 is expected to be different. With greater stability in the clubhouse, a core group of players still in their prime, and Jackson Merrill just beginning his career, the Padres are poised to make a deeper playoff run. They were close to upsetting the eventual champion Dodgers in the NLDS and should be hungrier than ever to build on that momentum.
The Padres haven’t made consecutive playoff appearances since 2005-06. There’s every reason to believe they can break that trend in 2025.
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