Padres projected $41 million All-Star predicted to leave San Diego

What's next for the San Diego Padres?

San Diego won 93 games in 2024 and seriously pushed the juggernaut Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. The Padres finished five games behind the Dodgers, but there was a time late in the season when the Padres made it very close in the division.

The Padres won just 82 games last year and clearly took a massive step forward. While that is the case, the club could lose some players this winter. San Diego also could make additions in free agency or the trade market, but there also will be some players in other uniforms in 2025.

FanSided's Christopher Kline predicted that All-Star catcher Elias Díaz will be someone playing elsewhere.

"The Padres picked up 2023 All-Star Game (Most Valuable Player) Elias Diaz toward the end of the season after the Colorado Rockies placed him on outright waivers," Kline said. "It was a chance for Diaz to latch on with a contender, but he signed a minor-league contract and was never seriously involved in the Padres' game plan. Diaz ended up as San Diego's third-string catcher behind Kyle Higashioka and Luis Campusano. Higashioka is also a free agent, so the Padres' catcher depth chart is somewhat wide-open, but one would expect San Diego to bring back its everyday starter.

"Even if Higashioka ends up elsewhere, though, it's hard to imagine Diaz supplanting him in San Diego after being such an afterthought down the stretch. Campusano, at 26 years old, is set up as the long-term heir to Higashioka's throne. Diaz, 33, is bound to test the free agent waters in full and land with a different contender, probably on a one-year, prove-it deal."

Díaz has a projected market value of $41 million over three seasons although he likely will get much less than that. It sounds like it may not be with San Diego, though.

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