The Padres Are Entering Camp With a Glaring Roster Question

San Diego Padres fans remember, and most likely don’t miss, the duo of Martín Maldonado and Elias Díaz behind the plate. Defensively, the tandem was serviceable; however, they were the worst offensive catchers in all of baseball in terms of wRC+.

The team might be in a similar situation this season if Preller doesn’t address the situation. 

As it stands, the two catchers projected to be on the roster are Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano, according to RosterResource. After coming over from the Royals last trade deadline, Fermin was a significant upgrade for the team on both sides of the ball; there are no questions regarding him. 

The concern is depth. 

In a perfect world, Fermin catches the majority of the games this season and Campusano gives him his needed rest days. But catching is the most physically demanding position in baseball, and Fermin has yet to catch a full season. Essentially, the Padres are one injury away from once again having the worst catching situation in baseball.

What are the ways they could avoid this scenario? Let’s dive into the ways the Padres could tap into their system internally or if they will need to add via free agency.

The Internal Options

As stated previously, Fermin is firmly entrenched as the team’s starter; next up would be Campusano.

If you just looked at Campusano’s minor-league numbers without a name attached to them, you would think he is a top prospect poised to be a franchise cornerstone. In 105 games in Triple-A, he slashed .336/.441/.595 with 25 doubles, 25 home runs, and 95 RBI. The struggle is translating at the highest level.

Last season was his worst showing, going 0-for-21, which resulted in him getting sent down. While there is some hope that he can figure things out, it feels like this year is his last chance to do it.

Outside of his offensive woes, he is a below-average defender, leaving him currently as an untrustworthy option.

The other remaining catchers that have made noise in the minors are Ethan Salas and Lamar King Jr.

We all remember the hype Salas garnered when he was a teenager, but he has plateaued since. This isn’t a knock against him; rarely does a teenager shoot up through the minors with little to no speed bumps.

Stress fractures in his back forced him to miss most of the 2025 season, so this will be a much-needed season for Salas to continue his development. There is no ruling out his All-Star-caliber ceiling, but it won’t be this season where he displays it in the bigs. 

King is coming off a strong year in the minors. Between Single-A and High-A, he batted .274 with a .737 OPS. While these numbers are inspiring, especially coming off right shoulder surgery, he will need to continue to sustain his success in Double-A to have any chance of getting called up. 

Based on the available options within the system, it seems that they are either not trustworthy or ready for the big leagues.

Who Is Still Available In Free Agency?

Jonah Heim seemed like he could have been a fit for cheap, but he is now an Atlanta Brave for $1.5 million. Who else could serve as a backup?

Christian Vázquez is one of the few catchers available and would make one of the better catching duos alongside Fermin. While his hitting is comparable to Maldonado’s and Díaz’s, he is significantly better defensively, ranking above league average in Blocks Above Average, CS Above Average, and pop time. 

The best-case scenario is Vázquez posts a 1.5-2.0 WAR with his defense and spotty hitting. The worst-case is a light bat in the lineup, but still a serviceable option.

Another catcher available is Mitch Garver. He’s experienced back-to-back down years in Seattle, which can partially be attributed to hitting in T-Mobile Park. While Petco Park isn’t necessarily hitter-friendly, there is a chance Garver has one more good offensive season left in him. 

Garver is much more of a gamble. The offensive ceiling is higher than Vázquez’s, but durability and defense are valid concerns.

If Preller were choosing between the two, the choice becomes philosophical. Is defense and run prevention the priority? Or is it to chase offensive upside and hope for a bounce-back season?

Final Thoughts

The catching position is bleak to put it lightly. Banking on a Campusano breakout is not a great world to live in. Unfortunately, Salas hasn’t taken the steps to be the team’s primary catcher, and King has to prove he can sustain his recent success. 

Not all rosters are perfect — not even the Dodgers’ — but this deficiency plagued the Padres for the majority of last season, and it very well could this season. Going and getting Vázquez or Garver would make the situation feel much safer.

Either way, it will be a storyline worth watching during the spring to see how Campusano looks or if a move is made for another catcher.