Catcher Chaos: Padres Navigate Complex Market in Search of Starting Backstop
The San Diego Padres still don’t know who their starting catcher will be next season. While they have some time to address this pressing issue, the options are dwindling. It may not be the franchise’s top offseason priority, but General Manager A.J. Preller must find a solution soon.
Padres Continue Quest for Starting Catcher
Concerns about the catcher position are nothing new for Padres fans. Over the years, the team has struggled to find consistent production behind the plate. From Derek Norris to Austin Hedges and Austin Nola, stability has been elusive. Heading into 2025, the same uncertainty looms large. A potential reunion with Kyle Higashioka seemed plausible earlier this offseason, but the veteran catcher signed with the Texas Rangers. The Padres’ list of viable options has shrunk, and the clock is ticking.
Backstop Carousel: Possible Options
Luis Campusano
Once a highly touted prospect, Luis Campusano’s development has stalled. Trade rumors have swirled around the 26-year-old this offseason, but his lack of consistent production has left him with minimal trade value. In 2024, Campusano posted a disappointing .227/.281/.361 slash line with eight home runs, 40 RBI, and a .642 OPS (78 OPS+). Despite flashes of potential, he hasn’t sustained success at the big-league level. With limited options available, the Padres might be forced to give Campusano one last opportunity to prove he can handle the starting role. However, patience is wearing thin.
Elías Díaz
Elías Díaz, who signed a minor league deal with the Padres in August, presents a low-cost veteran option. The 34-year-old former All-Star struggled offensively in 2024, slashing .265/.313/.382 with six home runs, 39 RBI, and a .695 OPS (88 OPS+). His defensive skills remain solid, making him reliable behind the plate. Díaz could emerge as a budget-friendly short-term solution. While not an ideal long-term option, he brings experience to a team in need of stability. Moreover, he already has some familiarity with the coaching staff and the starting rotation.
Ethan Salas
This one is a long shot. At just eighteen years old, Ethan Salas is the Padres’ top prospect and ranked 19th overall in MLB. Salas has impressed scouts with his maturity, leadership, and potential, but his offensive production in 2024 revealed growing pains. He posted a .206/.288/.311 slash line across all minor league action.
The Padres are unlikely to rush Salas to the majors, but his inclusion in spring training could make things interesting. If Salas delivers an impressive performance during the spring, he could complicate the decision-making process for manager Mike Shildt and the coaching staff. However, the prudent choice would be to allow him more time to develop rather than rushing him into major league action prematurely.
Trade or Free Agent Signing
Preller is known for his creativity, and the Padres could still add a catcher via trade or free agency. However, the market for catchers is rapidly thinning. Free agents like Carson Kelly, Danny Jansen, and Gary Sánchez have already signed elsewhere, and former Yankee Jose Treviño was recently traded to the Cincinnati Reds.
A reunion with former Padre Yasmani Grandal could be a possibility. Grandal, 36, had a resurgent 2024 campaign with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but a trade for an experienced backstop remains the most likely scenario. If Preller makes a move, it would provide much-needed competition for Díaz or Campusano heading into 2025.
