San Diego is set to bring Gary Sánchez back, and the reunion could be the simplest way to restore real punch behind the plate.NL
*PREDICTION*
One of the more interesting teams across baseball this offseason has to be the San Diego Padres, who are coming off another frustrating end to the season. San Diego was eliminated in the wild-card round, and the roster has a lot of questions to answer.
The Padres have the tools to win at the highest level, but they consistently have fallen short. This could see the front office look to make some changes around stars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.
But how the Padres plan to do this remains to be seen, even with the president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, being known for his wild ways. However, the Padres can’t continue to waste the talent on the roster, and something needs to change for this team going into the 2026 season.
San Diego Padres Will Re-Sign Gary Sanchez
As the Padres’ front office looks to figure out how to navigate the offseason, the team does need to upgrade the catcher position. This has been a weakness for San Doego over the years, and it could lead them back to an old friend.
That would be veteran catcher Gary Sanchez, who was with the Padres for a short time a few seasons ago. Sanchez is coming off a year where he played for the Baltimore Orioles, but his season was cut short due to injuries.
The veteran only appeared in 29 games for Baltimore, hitting .231 with five home runs and 24 runs batted in. Sanchez was mainly the backup to star Adley Rutschman, and the Orioles brought him in for veteran leadership in the locker room.
Sanchez could do the same for the Padres, and he seemed to vibe with the others in the clubhouse while he was in San Diego previously. The veteran played in 72 games for San Diego during the 2023 season, and he seemed to find a home during his limited time.
In that time with the Padres, Sanchez hit 218 with 19 home runs and 46 runs batted in. The veteran provided the Padres with a nice power threat in the lineup, and he got along well with players like Tatis Jr. and Machado.
San Diego could use another veteran in the locker room, as it has lacked a true leader in the clubhouse over the years. Sanchez could offer this to them, and since he has already played there, the other stars may be willing to listen to him.
Overall, the Padres could look to bring Sanchez back to town this offseason, even on a one-year deal, as they try to get more production out of the catching position. Sanchez could be a solid bet for this Padres team, giving them a solid veteran and bat for the 2026 season.
