Ryan Weiss faces an uncertain path to the San Diego Padres opening roster as the front office aggressively pursues starting pitching upgrades this winter.
San Diego needs to secure between four and five starting pitchers after six players hit free agency, The Chosun Daily reported on Nov. 15. The team saw Michael King, Nick Pivetta, Walker Buehler, Casey Mize, Robby Ray, and Griffin Canning depart as free agents.
Randy Vasquez stands as the sole reliable starter currently locked into the existing roster.
Weiss signed a one-year contract with a 2028 team option on Nov. 11. The deal provides an opportunity to compete for a starting role in spring training after he made the opening roster with the Houston Astros earlier in the year.
The Padres have shown interest in nearly every available starting pitcher on the open market, The Chosun Daily reported. MLB Trade Rumors indicated the club is tracking free agents Freddy Peralta, Nick Martinez, and Matthew Boyd.
Peralta won 17 games with the Milwaukee Brewers before recording 10 victories split between the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays.
Martinez secured 15 wins with Tampa Bay this season, while Boyd added 14 victories with the Chicago Cubs.
JP Sears remains a rotation candidate without offering stability. Joe Musgrove returned from elbow surgery, though his role as a starter or reliever is undecided. Darvish Yu continues rehabbing from right elbow surgery with his 2025 availability undetermined.
San Diego ranks ninth in Major League Baseball for total player salary. The organization faces pressure from the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers to increase spending under new ownership.
General Manager AJ Preller addressed the potential for payroll expansion.
“The new owners are open to discussing various scales of investment and contract terms,” Preller said, according to The Chosun Daily Daily.
Intensified competition for rotation spots could push Weiss toward a minor-league assignment or a bullpen transition similar to his tenure in Houston.