MLB Stock Down: San Diego Padres
The Mets or the Padres, who had the more disappointing season? Both had huge payrolls, they both had star power and they both failed to come anywhere close to reaching expectations. We covered the Mets earlier, now let’s cover the Padres.
Over the offseason, San Diego signed Xander Bogaerts away from the Red Sox, giving the Friars more star power than they already had. Added to a roster with Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and some good young players, it felt like a World Series or bust in Southern California. It became a bust.
Despite a rotation that had Blake Snell and Michael Wacha have very good seasons and one of the game’s best closers in Josh Hader, it never meshed in time. The Padres went on a late-season eight-game winning streak, but it was too little, too late.
Changes appear to be happening in San Diego and it could happen anywhere, the front office, the coaching staff, and even the roster. They will look to continue to be a contender next season, but this feels like a big offseason for the front office in terms of decisions for 2024.
There are still some things left to play for over the weekend, but the 2023 season certainly had it’s surprising teams and disappointing teams and the teams not in the playoffs are going to be the ones to watch as the offseason unfolds.