The San Diego Padres’ 2024 season came to an end with a 2-0 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. The Dodgers moved on to the NLCS, while the Padres look back at their season and ahead to another hopeful run in 2025.
After a lackluster 2023, where they finished 82-80, the Padres made some big moves. They traded Juan Soto to the Yankees, acquired Dylan Cease, and won 93 games under new manager Mike Shildt. This was their best record since 1998! The team improved their performance in crucial moments, going from a poor extra innings record in 2023 to an impressive one this year.
Despite league-wide batting struggles, the Padres scored more runs than they had since 2004. Even after trading Soto, eight players hit double-digit homers; Manny Machado led them all. Jurickson Profar had his best season yet, Fernando Tatis Jr. shone when healthy , and rookie Jackson Merrill impressed everyone. On the mound, Cease and Michael King were a powerful duo.
Looking Ahead: Free Agents and Future Plans
As they plan for next year, several key players might leave as free agents: Ha-Seong Kim, Profar again (who seems like he’s always around), Kyle Higashioka behind the plate, MartÃn Pérez on the mound’s left side (not literally), and Tanner Scott throwing heat from relief spots. Together these guys added up to a combined WAR of 9.3 for San Diego this past season—no small potatoes! Fans hope management will keep some familiar faces or find good replacements.
Joe Musgrove is out for all of next year due to Tommy John surgery—a tough blow given his ace status when healthy—but there isn’t much help coming soon from their farm system because trades have thinned it out over recent years.
Still under contract are stars like Machado (who never seems tired), Tatis Jr., Cease (the pitcher not stopping anytime soon), King plus Yu Darvish throwing strikes while Xander Bogaerts swings hard alongside Luis Arraez hitting everything pitched near him—and don’t forget Merrill either!
Fans believe this group forms an incredible core capable of contending again especially with three wild-card spots available per league each postseason cycle now!
Ownership Changes Impacting Payroll
Since Peter Seidler passed away though things haven’t been quite as committed financially speaking among ownership circles anymore… Once upon time small-market Padres rose dramatically through payroll ranks according Cot’s Contracts estimates—they went ninth place Opening Day spending-wise back during ‘21 campaign then fifth following year before reaching third highest mark come springtime last season…but alas now post-Seidler era sees almost $85 million shaved off budget dropping them down into fourteenth spot across MLB landscape heading into current calendar year instead…
Padres owners need halt any further cuts immediately ensuring A.J Preller has necessary resources pursue elusive first-ever World Series title franchise history deserves achieving someday soon hopefully rather than later ideally perhaps even next October who knows?
What do you think? Will they make it happen?
