Most of the focus this time of the year is on which big-name players teams like the San Diego Padres could end up losing. All of it can drastically affect the landscape of MLB. However, we can’t forget about minor-league free agency, which has a lesser effect but still impacts a very important part of every organization: depth.
The minor league picture for the Padres is going to take some time to settle. We don’t know for sure which prospects could get a shot at the big leagues in 2025 (although Ethan Salas and Leo De Vries are making strong cases right now) and the 40-man moves to protect prospects from the Rule 5 draft have yet to be determined.
However, we do know who did and did not make the Padres’ initial round of minor league cuts as a host of minor leaguers are now free agents with a couple of notable retentions.
Sweeping changes appear to be coming to the Padres’ minor league depth
Starting with the guys that are sticking around, we have catcher Brandon Valenzuela and LHP Omar Cruz. Keeping Valenzuela around makes sense because while his offensive numbers don’t jump off the page, he does have significant catching experience in the higher levels of the minors. San Diego could easily lose Kyle Higashioka this offseason and there is no guarantee that Salas will be ready at the start of 2025.
As for Cruz, he is an upper levels lefty reliever who nearly got called up in 2024. Both are ranked as top-30 prospects for the Padres, so hanging on to them was expected.
In regard to the losses, they are more numerous than impactful, which shouldn’t have fans too worried. Carl Edwards Jr. couldn’t force his way into the Padres’ bullpen discussion and will now try to find a new team alongside Nabil Crismatt. Infielder Matthew Batten has seen playing time in the big leagues here and there since 2022 and also finds himself in search of employment. Other mildly interesting names that are now minor league free agents include hit by pitch machine Ray-Patrick Didder, Cal Mitchell, and Kevin Plawecki.
Again, there are no crazy surprises here, but it underscores the Padres’ need to shore up their minor league depth this offseason. As they found out in 2024, after multiple serious injuries, you never know when you will need to find the next man up.
