The San Diego Padres finished the 2024 season with a record of 93-69 and made the postseason for the first time since 2022.
Although the season ended after a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the National League Division Series, the Padres showed they can contend with the world champions.
The Padres have plenty of options this offseason to add additional talent to their roster before the 2025 season with the stacked free agent class.
Padres manager Mike Shildt sent a clear message about his expectations for the team in 2025.
“We fully expect to be right there in the mix,” Shildt said via MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM.
“We fully expect to be right there in the mix and at the end of the day have Sasaki a Padre.
Mike Shildt expects the #Padres to make a big addition to his rotation this winter:#WinterMeetings |
https://t.co/V5LiMNEoWf pic.twitter.com/edHmyIhG0a — MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 9, 2024
The Padres have the unfortunate luck of residing in the same division as the Dodgers in the National League West.
Even though the Padres haven’t won the NL West since 2006, Shildt expects his team to make a run next season at not only a division title but also a World Series.
One free agent starting pitcher that Shildt says the Padres will contend for is Roki Sasaki from Japan.
Sasaki is a 23-year-old pitcher coming over to the MLB from Japan as a free agent this offseason.
The Padres have starting pitcher Yu Darvish on their roster from Japan, and Shildt believes this could be a factor in bringing in Sasaki in free agency.
Sasaki pitched in 18 games for his overseas team last year and held a record of 10-5 with a 2.35 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 111.0 innings pitched.
The Padres could benefit from dominant starting pitching in their attempt to quiet the stacked Dodgers offense next season.
The post Padres Manager Sends A Clear Message About Expectations Next Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.