The San Diego Padres, needing options in left field, are nearing a deal with free agent Connor Joe, league sources told The Athletic.
Joe, 32, is expected to split time between left field and first base for his hometown club. A product of Poway High School and the University of San Diego, Joe played both positions, as well as right field, the past two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was a slightly above-league-average hitter in 2023, logging a .760 OPS and 11 home runs. In 2024, he was less productive, posting a .688 OPS with nine home runs, leading the Pirates to non-tender him in November.
The Padres have lacked left-field depth for most of the offseason. Last spring, Jurickson Profar signed for $1 million, then he unexpectedly starred for San Diego and recently secured a $42 million deal with the Atlanta Braves. Elsewhere, David Peralta, another surprising contributor in 2024, remains a free agent. Aside from All-Stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill, the only outfielders currently on the Padres’ 40-man roster are Brandon Lockridge and Tirso Ornelas.
Lockridge made his big-league debut in September as a pinch-running and defensive specialist, while Ornelas has yet to appear in the majors. Non-roster invitees who will be in spring training include Oscar Gonzalez, Yonathan Perlaza and Forrest Wall.
Joe, who has a .766 career OPS against left-handed pitching, could help form a platoon in left field. The righty hitter also could share time at first base with three-time batting champion Luis Arraez (with Arraez serving as the designated hitter when he isn’t at first). Arraez, top starter Dylan Cease and closer Robert Suarez are among the prime trade candidates for the Padres as they attempt to balance a tight budget and roster needs.
Before Friday, the Padres had given out one big-league free-agent deal this offseason, re-signing catcher Elias Díaz to a $3.5 million contract. The team has completed one trade, acquiring reliever Ron Marinaccio from the Chicago White Sox. While further trades could significantly impact the roster, the Padres are still seeking starting pitching and more depth at multiple positions.
(Photo: Jeff Dean / Associated Press)
