The San Diego Padres have taken a passive approach to the offseason, failing to make significant moves despite their recent playoff success. This lack of activity has contrasted with the Los Angeles Dodgers' aggressive pursuit of top free agents, widening the gap between the two rivals. Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill offer contrasting perspectives on the team's direction.
The San Diego Padres have experienced a relatively quiet offseason following their impressive 2024 run that ended in the NLDS. Despite nearly defeating the eventual World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers , in the playoffs, the Padres have refrained from making any significant signings or trades to bolster their chances of winning the championship next season.
During the Padres Fan Fest on Saturday, Padres third baseman Manny Machado candidly expressed his disappointment over the team's lack of activity during the offseason. 'Are we disappointed we haven't made any moves? Yeah,' Machado admitted to the media. 'As a team, you look out there and you're a little disappointed that you let some of the guys that were a core group here go elsewhere, but at the end of the day we can't control that.' Meanwhile, Padres rookie standout Jackson Merrill offered a more optimistic perspective on the team's uneventful offseason. 'I kind of like it being quiet though,' Merrill shared. '... Whatever team we have out there on that field, we're going to be able to dominate and compete with any team.' The Padres' lack of major additions this offseason has been compounded by the departure of several key players from last season through free agency. Among those who have moved on are reliever Tanner Scott, who joined the Dodgers, Jurickson Profar, who signed with the Atlanta Braves, and In contrast, the Padres' biggest division rival, the Dodgers, have continued to establish a significant lead over the rest of Major League Baseball by acquiring multiple top free agents this offseason, including Scott and former Cy Young winner Blake Snell. While no team has been able to match the Dodgers' aggressive offseason pursuits, the Padres have notably fallen short by failing to secure Roki Sasaki or at least one crucial free agent, a development that will not aid San Diego in their quest to overtake the Dodgers in both the division and World Series races.As recently as 2023, the Padres were among the most active teams in the league, with late owner Peter Seidler making significant signings like Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Snell, while also acquiring Juan Soto through a trade. However, since Seidler's passing, the Padres' spending has been curtailed, and his sons, Matt and Bob Seidler, are currently embroiled in a legal battle over the ownership of the team. This internal conflict may further hinder the Padres' ability to compete at the highest level. The team's current trajectory raises questions about their ability to sustain their recent success and challenge the Dodgers' dominance in the National League West
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