The Padres hit on a lottery ticket in Jurickson Profar in 2024.
Perhaps another lottery ticket will help them replace their All-Star left fielder.
The Padres have signed switch-hitting outfielder Yonathan Perlaza to a minor league deal. Perlaza confirmed the signing on his Instagram stories.
The 26-year-old Perlaza is coming off a 24-homer campaign with Hanwha in the KBO, where he hit .275/.364/.486 with 70 RBIs and seven steals in 122 games.
Perlaza hit 23 homers in each of the previous two seasons at the Cubs’ Triple-A (.922 OPS) and Double-A (.850 OPS) affiliates.
He was released after the 2023 season without having ever made it to the majors with the Cubs.
Chicago signed Perlaza in August 2015 out of Venezuela.
He never ranked in the organization’s top-30 prospects, as ranked by Baseball America.
Among the Padres needs this season is a replacement for Profar in left field.
The plan to address the position could begin to crystalize at next week’s winter meetings. Options on the 40-man roster include Tirso Ornelas and speedster Brandon Lockridge.
The plan to address the position could begin to crystalize at next week’s winter meetings. Options on the 40-man roster include Tirso Ornelas and speedster Brandon Lockridge. The team has also signed outfielder Oscar Gonzalez away from the Yankees system. The 26-year-old hit .294/.333/.469 with eight homers and seven steals in 78 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
- OF: Oscar Gonzalez (Yankees), Yonathan Perlaza (KBO)
- INF: Francisco Acuna (Pirates), Trenton Brooks (Giants)
- RHP: RHP Harold Chirino (Brewers), Eduarniel Nunez (Cubs)
- LHP: C.J. Widger (Mariners)
OUTGOING FREE AGENTS
- C: Michael De La Cruz, Kevin Plawecki, Chandler Seagle, Juan Zabala
- INF: Matthew Batten, Connor Hollis, Nate Mondou, Robbie Tenerowicz,
- OF: Ray Patrick-Didder, Timothy Locastro, Cal Mitchell, Robert Pérez, Zach Reks
- RHP: Drew Carlton, Nabil Crismatt, Yovanny Cruz, Carl Edwards Jr., Reiss Knehr, Reggie Lawson, Seth Mayberry, Bobby Milacki, Gabe Mosser (Phillies), Josh Roberson, Nolan Watson
- LHP: Daniel Camarena, Ryan Carpenter, Austin Davis, Paul Fry, Jesus Gonzalez, Jayvien Sandridge