The Padres are turning their attention to preparing for the 2025 season after missing out on the postseason, as the Mets and Dodgers face off in Game 1 of the NLCS. San Diego’s offseason priorities will include addressing needs arising from the potential departure of key free agents. Among them, infielder Ha-Seong Kim is the most prominent, but his recent surgery and the team’s infield depth make left fielder Jurickson Profar and catcher Kyle Higashioka higher priorities to re-sign or replace.
Profar, 31, has expressed his desire to stay in San Diego, although he acknowledged the decision is not entirely his to make. After signing a one-year, $1 million deal with the Padres last offseason, he enjoyed a career-best season, hitting .280/.380/.459 with 24 home runs, 10 steals, an 11.1% walk rate, and a 15.1% strikeout rate over 158 games. His 4.3 fWAR ranked him among the top outfielders in baseball this year. While his breakout performance makes him a compelling free agent, his limited defensive value and inconsistent offensive history could temper teams’ enthusiasm for a long-term commitment.
San Diego faces a challenging payroll situation for 2025, with projected commitments exceeding $243 million for luxury tax purposes. This could force the team to cut costs elsewhere, particularly if they aim to retain Profar. One potential area to save is at catcher, where Higashioka impressed with 17 home runs in 263 plate appearances. Though he has expressed interest in returning, his expected salary increase may lead the Padres to part ways with both him and Kim.
The team’s plans could be influenced by the rapid development of top prospects Ethan Salas and Leodalis De Vries, both of whom the organization is optimistic about reaching the majors as early as 2025. Salas struggled offensively in High-A this year, while De Vries excelled in Single-A, but both would need to progress quickly through the minors to be ready for a big league debut next season.
If the Padres are confident in their young talent, they may opt for short-term solutions at catcher and shortstop, allowing flexibility for Salas and De Vries to step in when ready.
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