The San Diego Padres face a busy offseason as they work to strengthen their team. Despite a successful regular season that saw them win 91 games and reach the postseason for the third consecutive year, the Padres' playoff hopes ended with a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.
While the primary focus is on addressing the starting rotation, with the team likely seeking at least three new starters, attention is also turning to other roster needs. Outfielder Randy Arozarena has emerged as a prominent free agent option for the Padres, identified as a strong candidate to fill a void in left field.
Arozarena, currently 31 years old and set to turn 32 in February, is entering free agency for the first time in his eight-year career. He most recently played for the Seattle Mariners, earning $15.65 million last year. His past season is described as arguably his best, with a batting average of .281 across 154 games. During this period, he hit 26 home runs, accumulated 79 RBIs, and posted an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of .865.
For comparison, Padres left fielders collectively hit .251 with 16 home runs in 2026. Of those, Gavin Sheets, who is considered better suited for designated hitter or first base roles, contributed six home runs. Ramon Laureano, whose season concluded in May and is now a free agent, hit five. While Dustin Harris and Samad Taylor have shown some success in left field, relying solely on them to maintain an elite hitting level is not seen as a viable strategy for a team aiming to win now.
Beyond his regular season performance, Arozarena is noted as a strong playoff performer. In 45 career postseason games, he has maintained a .292 batting average, hit 12 home runs, driven in 19 RBIs, and recorded an impressive .946 OPS. This contrasts with the Padres' team performance in this year's postseason, where they posted a collective OPS of .651 across six games.
Acquiring Arozarena would not be inexpensive. Current projections estimate a four-year contract valued at approximately $81.8 million. The Padres' current roster construction would make it challenging to afford a contract with such a high average annual value while also addressing other necessary roster improvements.
To facilitate such a move, the Padres may need to make trades to shed existing payroll, with Jake Cronenworth's contract cited as a potential example. Such financial adjustments could allow the team to add a playoff-proven player who could help a Padres offense that has struggled in the postseason over the last three years.
