Padres clear 40-man, release five players from roster
Credit: USA Today Sports
The San Diego Padres are already making moves this winter.
In a move to make room on the 40-man roster, the San Diego Padres cut ties with five players.
No real surprises, as the Padres are surely eyeing free agents and are in exploratory talks to bring in new players.
Catcher Webster Rivas, infielder Ivan Castillo, outfielder Brian O’Grady, right-handed pitcher Miguel Diaz, and left-handed pitcher Daniel Camarena were all removed from the Padres roster. Each man spent time on the Padres’ major league roster this past season.
Of all the players, Diaz is arguably the biggest surprise. The pitcher showed some value in 2021, displaying an improved changeup. However, he still struggled with command and was hit hard at times. The 26-year-old threw a total of 108.2 innings for the Padres over four different seasons with the club. In 2021, he pitched 42 innings and recorded a 3.64 ERA.
Castillo made his major league debut in 2021 but only earned four at-bats before being sent to El Paso. The versatile infielder is still 26 and will likely latch on somewhere else as he attempts to make it back to the majors.
O’Grady turned into a fan favorite, but he struggled at the major league level in 61 plate appearances. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old played well in El Paso and could earn another shot at playing time elsewhere. He will need to improve fast, though, as his window of opportunity is closing due to his age.
Left-handed pitcher Daniel Camarena will always hold a place in Padres lore as the San Diego slugged a grand slam off Max Scherzer and the Nationals in July. His “Slamerena” game will forever be remembered. However, the pitcher did struggle in his time with the Padres, recording a 9.64 ERA.
Lastly, Webster Rivas is a defensive-first catcher. The 31 made his debut in the majors with the Padres this year, and it was very special for several in the system. Rivas has grinded hard to get to where he is, and there is a lot of love for him within the pitching staff. The right-handed hitter put up a wRC+ of 80 for the Padres in 2021.
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The Padres now have five open spots on the 40-man roster. There will be additions made as soon as possible.
Expect the Padres to be active in the winter, and this is just a sign of the potential activity.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.