Padres seek an outfield upgrade, eyeing a former All-Star to bolster their lineup before Opening Day and contend for a deeper postseason run.
The San Diego Padres are heading into the 2026 campaign with high hopes yet again. After winning 90 games but being bounced out in the Wild Card series last fall, it’s clear there’s work to do for the club to take that next step.
Their financial situation this offseason hadn’t made it easy for San Diego. They were forced to watch key contributors from the 2025 team, right-hander Dylan Cease, first basemen Luis Arraez, and Ryan O’Hearn, walk in free agency.
Luckily, they were able to dish out $75 million to bring back right-handed starter Michael King, though it’s likely to be just for 2026 as the final two years each have an opt-out. King’s return, paired with smaller signings of players such as outfielder/first baseman Nick Castellanos and infielder Sung-Mun Song, has been enough to keep the Friars competitive, but it’s unlikely they’ve made enough meaningful change to take the necessary leap.
Spring training started less than a week ago, and there’s still time for the Padres to make some moves before the regular season commences. Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer wrote in a recent article that the Padres should trade for Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
Duran’s name has been linked to San Diego since last summer, though a deal was never struck, and he played out the rest of the season in Boston. The Padres didn't go out and grab a top outfieldert his offseason, meaning the intrigue is likely still there.
Ramon Laureano is currently the left fielder in San Diego with Jackson Merrill in center field and Fernando Tatis Jr. in right field, but he’s clearly the weakest link of the three. He had an unusually great season in 2025 at 30 years old, but he’s likely to fall back down to earth again in 2026. If the Padres want a sure thing in left field, Duran is a great option to target.
Duran, 29, followed up his 2024 All-Star season with a 4.7 WAR 2025 campaign. He led the American League in triples with 13 and finished the year with 84 RBIs, 26 stolen bases, and a 114 OPS+. He was also solid in the outfield after moving primarily to left field, ranking in the 93rd percentile in arm value.
The Padres' offseason was filled with modest signings, but nothing that exactly moved the needle for a team that didn’t make it past the Wild Card round last fall. If they want to give themselves a true chance in the National League, they need to be aggressive.
Trading for Duran is a move that makes sense and gives the club a new life in the NL West. Having a star-studded outfield and infield just might be enough for San Diego to take that leap into true contenders.