The Padres’ offseason just took a nosedive into full-blown disappointment on Friday, and it stings. Japanese pitching prodigy Roki Sasaki, the one they were hoping could be the ace to turn their fortunes around, has instead chosen the Los Angeles Dodgers as his new home. Sasaki made the announcement himself, posting it to Instagram like a gut punch to Padres fans everywhere.

Now, San Diego is left in a lurch. The Padres are scrambling to figure out their next move as the 2025 season looms large. To make matters worse, their most annoying rivals, the Dodgers, just got even stronger with another star in tow. So here we are: while the Padres lick their wounds, LA continues to stack the deck. The road to October just got a whole lot tougher for San Diego. Who knew this offseason could feel like a season-long struggle before it even began? 

The Padres fail to sign Roki Sasaki and can head to do more trades 

The optics for the Padres? Let’s just say they’re not exactly shining right now. Since wrapping up a solid 93-win season and making it to the National League Division Series, San Diego has barely made a ripple in the offseason waters. According to the San Diego Tribune, despite clear needs at catcher, left field, and starting pitching, the Padres have yet to pull off a trade or make a splash in free agency. And let’s be real—fans were hoping for some fireworks. Instead, it’s been more like a slow, awkward fizzle. This slowness can be contributed to the fact that there is an ongoing battle for ownership. 

Add to that the fact that the club was known for spending big in the years before owner Peter Seidler’s untimely passing in November 2023, and it starts to feel like a serious step back. Estimates show the Padres are right up against the luxury tax threshold, and that’s not exactly a recipe for roster flexibility.And then there are the trade rumors. The Padres have reportedly entertained offers for some of their top players—guys like ace Dylan Cease, closer Robert Suarez, and batting champ Luis Arraez—who could all hit free agency after next season.  

The team signs former White Sox catcher Martin Maldonado 

A former Houston Astros World Series champ is making a move for the 2025 season—and he’s doing it in Padres colors. Martín Maldonado, the gritty catcher who was a key part of Houston’s 2017 and 2022 championship runs, is leaving the Astros after spending six seasons in Houston across two stints from 2018 to 2024. The 38-year-old has inked a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres, complete with a non-roster invite to spring training.

The 2024 season for Martín Maldonado was forgettable. After agreeing to a $4 million, one-year contract with the Chicago White Sox, the seasoned backstop soon fell into a deep slump. He recorded a .404 OPS, a below .200 on-base percentage, and a miserable.119 batting average over 48 games. The White Sox had had enough by the middle of July, and Maldonado was discharged after being assigned.

Maldonado is currently working with the Padres to try to rekindle his career. Although it seems unlikely that he would return to a major league position, Martín Maldonado has earned his status as one of the best defensive catchers in the game, and his 2017 campaign with the Los Angeles Angels is a prime illustration of that. The Puerto Rican player’s outstanding play behind the plate earned him a Gold Glove that year.