BULLPEN LOOKING LIKE A STRENGTH
Suarez returning as a bridge to closer Hader steadies the back end
Pitchers and catchers participating in the World Baseball Classic will report to the Padres’ spring training complex in Peoria, Ariz., by Monday, with the rest of the roster trickling in over the next week ahead of the first full-squad workout on Feb. 21. To get you ready for arguably the most anticipated season in franchise history, we’re taking a deep dive into each corner of the Padres’ 40-man roster.
Finally, the relievers:
2022 recap
The Padres left camp last spring without a defined closer and finished the year with arguably the best in the game — although it was hardly a smooth transition for Josh Hader following the trade out of Milwaukee.
The 28-year-old lefty allowed 12 runs over his first 42⁄3 innings with the Padres, rounded into form over his last 12 regular-season appearances (0.79 ERA) and by the end of a dominant run in the playoffs had become the first pitcher to ever strike out eight straight hitters in a postseason. With righthander Robert Suarez rolling after returning from knee surgery (1.48 ERA over final 241⁄3 IP) and emerging as a star in the postseason before Bryce Harper’s game-winning homer off him in Game 5 of the NLCS, the back of the bullpen was in a much, much stronger position than it was when Taylor Rogers’ struggles (7.41 ERA in June and July) forced the Padres to look for an upgrade on the closer they acquired just before Opening Day.
Luis Garcia (3.39 ERA) enjoyed a successful first season as a setup man in San Diego, Nick Martinez (3.47 ERA) was a revelation after his move from the rotation to
the bullpen, rookie Steven Wilson (3.06 ERA) thrived after learning a new slider from pitching coach Ruben Niebla and left-hander Tim Hill (3.56 ERA) recovered nicely from the overuse that dogged him at the end of 2021.
Others helping the Padres weather losing veterans Drew Pomeranz for the entire year, Pierce Johnson (5.02 ERA, 141⁄3 IP) for most of the year and Craig Stammen (4.43 ERA, 402⁄3 IP) for a large chunk of it included Nabil Crismatt (2.94 ERA) until a late-season slump forced him to Triple-A El Paso and Adrian Morejon (4.24 ERA) with a mostly successful first season back from Tommy John surgery.
Current picture
Suarez’s opt-out looked like it would create a bit more competition in the bullpen, but he returned to the Padres on a five-year, $46 million deal that seemingly makes him the longterm closer if Hader leaves as a free agent after the season. With Suarez back in the fold, he, Garcia and Pomeranz — if healthy — will provide most of the set-up work, with Hill and Wilson mixing in situationally.
Crismatt could also reclaim his spot in the ’pen as a change-of-pace piece. Martinez and newcomer Seth Lugo will at least start the year in the rotation but both have relief incentives built into their contracts if the starting doesn’t pan out. The Padres would also love Morejon to develop into a starting pitcher, but his career innings arc — he threw just 47 innings last year and has never topped 65 in a season — likely means he works in the bullpen in some capacity in 2023.
Likewise, many of the names in line for spot-start consideration — from Reiss Knehr to Ryan Weathers to Jay Groome to Brent Honeywell — could also be in line long relief work, while the likes of hard-throwing lefties Jose Castillo and Ray Kerr and right-hander Michel Baez also figure to shuttle between Triple-A El Paso and the majors at different points in the season.
On the farm
The arrival of Hader last summer and Suarez’s return on a new deal seemingly limits opportunities for the Padres’ homegrown relievers to force their way to San Diego, especially if they are intent keeping Rule 5 draftee Jose Lopez (we’d ask how could they possibly do that as contenders, but we’re talking about A.J. Preller).
Left-hander Tom Cosgrove and right-hander Angel Felipe figure to be high on the call-up list after pitching their way onto the 40-man roster after last season, while right-hander Alek Jacob — light on velocity but high on pitch-ability, guts and an elite change-up — is on the radar after progressing from A-ball to Triple-A El Paso in in his first full year in the system.
Right-hander Kevin Kopps, the 2021 Golden Spikes winner, remains a prospect despite his 4.14 ERA last year at Double-A San Antonio, but the 25year-old must find a way to land his plus slider/gyroball for strikes if he’s going to get a chance in the majors.
One sleeper to keep an eye on: Right-hander Jairo Iriarte spent most of 2022 in low Single-A Lake Elsinore’s rotation, striking out 109 batters in 911⁄3 innings (5.12 ERA) as a 20-year-old, but his plus slider could be a real weapon out of the bullpen if the Padres decide he won’t have enough command to remain a starting pitcher.