Jurickson Profar, The missing piece of the San Diego Padres.
It’s late in the 2023 season, the Padres are under .500 in the most disappointing season of all time. During the final two-road series stands, the Padres picked up Jurickson Profar from the Colorado Rockies. Profar was released from the Rockies to make room for Hunter Goodman.
San Diego Union Tribune (Getty Images)
If it ain’t broke, try to fix it.
Trace back to the 2022-2023 offseason. The Padres went on a tear during the fall classic. Beating the Mets in the National League Wild Card Round and the record-winning Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. Only to be cut short making it to the World Series by a scorching hot Philadephia Phillies. Profar was their leadoff man facing RHP, while Ha-Seong Kim was the Padres lead-off man facing LHP last season. During the offseason, Aj Preller and Peter Selider decided to go on a money route instead of looking at the big picture. Remember the 2022 trade deadline when the Padres acquired, Juan Soto, Brandon Drury, and Josh Bell. These were the pieces the Padres needed during the 2022 season. The pieces that had a record of 89-73. The front office was chasing after star players during the offseason. They tried to sign, Trea Turner and Aaron Judge to the Padres. Turner was a former Padres prospect before getting traded to the Washington Nationals to become a star, he was also part of the 2019 World Series Championship team. Judge on the other hand became a star with the New York Yankees. The Padres offered Judge to $415M for 12 years. If Judge signs with the Padres, it means Soto moves from RF to LF, Grisham at CF and Judge at RF. Meaning, where would Tatis Jr play at when he comes back from his 80 game suspension. Most likely Tatis will return playing at his natural position at SS. Trea Turner was offered $342M, which was more than the Phillies offered him. Judge went on to re-sign with the Yankees and Turner signed with the Phillies. Instead of resigning, Profar, Bell and Duruy, the Padres went out to sign another infielder, which turned out to be Xander Bogaerts for 11 years, $280M. It moves Jake Croneworth from playing 2nd Base to 1st Base, and Ha-Seong Kim from shortstop to 2nd Base. Bogaerts would end up playing at shortstop. Last year, the Padres infield was Machado at 3B, Kim at SS, Croneworth at 2B and Myers, Bell and Duruy at 1B. The Padres should’ve considered re-signing on of those three players playing at 1B. This was the infield that had 15 games without throwing an error at the start of the 2022 season. Since the Padres went out to find big stars players during the offseason, Bell went on to play for the Cleveland Guardians and then traded to the Miami Marlins during the 2023 trade deadline, Brandon Duruy went on to play for the Los Angeles Angles and Jurickson Profar signed with the Colorado Rockies. Profar was the right guy to play at LF for the Padres. For the 2023 season, the outfield was Soto at LF, Grisham at CF and Tatis Jr at RF.
This was the Padres leadoff man during the 2022 season.
What the Padres did right during the offseason.
What the Padres did right during the trade deadline was resigning Machado and Croneworth. Although these two players had a down year during the 2023 season, they we’re still core pieces to the Padres. Machado carried the Padres during the entire 2022 season and Croneworth being the clutch player during the NLDS.
Questionable resigning for the Padres during the offseason
Was Yu Darvish the right guy to give out a lucrative contract until he is 41? Darvish also had a down year with the Padres during the 2023 season. But it was also the right guy to have on the team at the moment. Darvish is also shut down and won’t pitch at the conclusion of the 2023 season. This is also the right trade Preller and Seidler did during the 2020-2021 offseason. It all started drafting Eric Lauer. Lauer made his debut with the Padres in 2018. He would get traded with the Brewers and the Padres would get Zach Davies. Davies would have a solid season with the Padres in the 2020 shortened season, then would get traded to the Cubs and that is where the Padres got Yu Darvish from that trade. Which turned out to be one of the best trades the Padres ever done. Darvish would have a good start with the Padres during the 2021 first half but the team would collapse in the 2nd half of the season. 2022, Darvish was considered as the ACE of the team. 2023 however, was a down year. Not getting enough innings to pitch during the World Baseball Classic and wasn’t a starter for his team (Japan). He was used as a bullpen piece towards the end of the tournament.
Nick Martinez on the other hand was signed for 5 years with the club. After being a valuable bullpen piece during the 2nd half of the 2022 season, it was a no brainer to resign him. Martinez this season has been consistent or inconsistent. He does have a one year opt out after the 2023 season. So the question should be asked, will Martinez play for the Padres after the 2023 season?
What if, the Padres had Profar during the entire 2023 season?
If the Padres had Profar during the entire 2023 season, this team would have a better record than what they currently have. The Padres sit at 69-78. Profar was their missing guy for the team. The difference between this Padres team during the season, it their offence being very impatient at the plate. Profar is the player that knows how to work the count and be patient at the plate. When Profar made his return against the Astros, he hit a homerun at his 2nd at bat. This one of the pieces of the glue that Padres needed in their lineup.
(Brynn Anderson/AP) (Getty Images)
What to do with Profar during the 2023 off-season.
Profar is back with the San Diego Padres. He considered his teammates his brothers. He also watched the Padres games during his venture with the Rockies. He also noticed where this team has fallen during the season. He knows he was a part of a team that treated him like it his home. Padres need to resign Profar during the off-season to a 2 year contract or pay him whatever he desires.
