The San Diego Padres are closing in on a deal with outfielder and first baseman Connor Joe, marking the start of what could be a significant addition to their roster. Following reports from Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the news broke Friday, indicating the Padres' effort to shore up their depth, especially after the departure of All-Star Jurickson Profar to the Atlanta Braves.
Joe, 32, is not just any player; he's returning to his roots. A product of Poway High School and the University of San Diego, Joe was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 39th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. His path to this moment has been far from linear. After being traded away from the Pirates early on, he found himself bouncing through various teams including the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Colorado Rockies before rejoining the Pirates for two seasons.
During his time with the Pirates, Joe demonstrated his versatility on the field, playing various positions including 79 games at first base and 44 games in right field. Despite his potential, the 2024 season was less than stellar. Joe posted a disappointing .228 batting average, with nine home runs and 36 RBIs over 416 plate appearances—a decline from his previous season where he hit .247 with 11 homers and 42 RBIs.
Beyond the stats, Joe is known for his ability to get on base, with notable performances throughout his minor league career. He generated an impressive .379 on-base percentage (OBP) over six minor league seasons, showing flashes of brilliance with a .415 OBP at the Triple-A level. This skill set is certainly appealing to the Padres as they look to fill the gaps left by free agency.
To provide some background, Joe’s decline in batting average came after an optimistic start to the 2024 season. At the end of April, he was hitting .292/.370/.483 before his performance dropped dramatically to .207/.304/.331 for the rest of the season.
According to sources, Joe's signing is expected to provide the Padres with the option of splitting time between left field and first base. With their current outfield depth thin following Profar’s departure, Joe, who has demonstrated consistent on-base capabilities, might be the candidate they're searching for to stabilize their lineup.
Defensively, Joe can play various roles. While his performance metrics indicate he is slightly below average as an outfielder, he has shown competence at first base, making him versatile for the team's lineup dynamics. The Padres are dealing with financial restrictions; following the re-signing of catcher Elias Díaz, they have been slow to engage with the free-agent market, aiming to address numerous gaps left on their roster.
Despite being labeled as just another league-average bat, both his on-base performance and his left-handed slugging against pitchers could make him valuable to the Padres. The signing not only provides immediate depth but also gives Joe the opportunity to reclaim his place as a consistent player at the major league level.
The Padres will likely be engaging Joe strategically within their lineup. He could help formulate platoon strategies, particularly effective against left-handers, as he owns a .766 career OPS against left-handed pitching. This could dovetail well with other players on the roster, as he operates smoothly within the daily grind of baseball.
With roster compositions changing swiftly—they recently traded for reliever Ron Marinaccio—the Padres also continue to explore adding talent. Notably, other candidates such as Dylan Cease and Robert Suarez may factor solely depending on the budget. Joe's contract, potentially modest under MLB standards, allows for flexibility within the already tight constraints faced by the club.
Joe's ability to blend seamlessly back home and contribute to the dugout dynamic could become elemental for the Padres as they navigate the 2025 season. For Joe, this isn’t just another deal; it's about redemption and taking his game back to where he first honed his skills.
Fans are buzzing with expectation for how this player, with mountains of experience and connections to the local community, can help propel the Padres back to contention as they look to stabilize their sidelines amid fluctuated rosters and shifting player availability.
Overall, Connor Joe's signing is emblematic of the Padres' intent to not only increase competition on their roster but also to cultivate local talent, hoping the synergy with Joe results not just in improved metrics, but overall team performance as well.