“We Are Building a Team No One will Want To PLay Against”. Padres Manager Mike Shildt Brutal Accessement After Announcing The Signing Of Former Yankees and Cleveland Right Fielder In a Blockbuster Trade.

The Padres have signed outfielder Oscar González to a minor league contract, according to MLB.com’s transaction tracker. He is currently assigned to Triple-A El Paso, but will most likely be invited to major league spring training.

González, 27, appeared to make a breakthrough with the Guardians in 2022. He made his major league debut that season, hitting 11 home runs in 91 games. His 3.9% walk rate was less than half of the league average, but his 19.6% strikeout rate was impressive, and the home runs helped drive him to a.296/.327/.461 hitting line and 123 wRC+. He also became a fan favourite after utilizing the SpongeBob SquarePants theme tune as his walk-up music and hitting a walk-off, series-clinching home run in the bottom of the 15th inning against the Rays in the Wild Card round.

However, his performance fell in 2023. His strikeout rate rose to 25.6%, but his walk rate plummeted even lower to 2.8%. He hit only two home runs in 54 games, batting.214/.239/.312 for a wRC+ of 48. He is not regarded as a great defender, therefore a lack of offence made it hard for him to add any worth.

The Guardians placed him on waivers following the season, and the Yankees grabbed him, though the Yanks later passed him through waivers unclaimed prior to the 2024 season. González went on to have a solid season in Triple-A, despite a couple stints on the injured list. He appeared in 78 games and hit eight home runs. His 20.3% strikeout rate and 4.9% walk rate were comparable to his big league season in 2022. He hit.294/.333/.469 for the RailRiders, totaling 106 wRC+.

The Yankees had an outfield lineup of Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, Trent Grisham, and Jasson Domínguez for most of the year, making it difficult for him to return to the majors. González was eligible to elect free agency at the end of the season, and he now has a new opportunity with the Padres.

The Friars recently lost Jurickson Profar and David Peralta to free agency. They have Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. in two outfield positions, but left field is now available. Tirso Ornelas, Eguy Rosario, and Brandon Lockridge are on the 40-man roster, although all three have less than 50 major league games of experience.

Given their mutual affinity, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Padres and Profar reunited, although he could have priced himself out of San Diego by now. He is coming off a fantastic season and may try to cash in, while the club has faced chronic financial difficulties in recent years.

Whether the Padres can enhance left field this winter or not, González will provide some non-roster depth. He hasn’t accumulated enough service time to be eligible for arbitration, so he’d be a low-cost option if he can make the roster. He also has options, which means he’ll have some roster flexibility if he gets a position.

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