The Padres bullpen depth update, head into the upcoming season facing a familiar but pressing concern: the pitching staff needs reinforcement.
That reality became clearer as the offseason unfolded. Dylan Cease is no longer part of the equation after departing for the Toronto Blue Jays, and longtime rotation stalwart Yu Darvish is currently sidelined by injury. Losing one front-line starter outright while another is unavailable has left San Diego with far more questions than answers when it comes to covering innings.
There was, however, at least one encouraging development for the Padres. The club managed to bring back Michael King, a move that provides some much-needed stability near the top of the rotation. Retaining King gives San Diego a dependable anchor and ensures they aren’t starting completely from scratch. Still, one arm—no matter how reliable—is not enough to carry a rotation across the grind of a full season.
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As currently constructed, the Padres simply lack the volume of trustworthy starters needed to both survive the regular season and realistically contend for a postseason berth. Depth has become an issue, durability is a concern, and the margin for error feels thin. That has naturally led to speculation about what kind of pitching help San Diego might pursue next.
Interestingly, one potential solution could come in a roundabout way from the same organization that benefitted from Cease’s departure. Chris Bassitt, who played a significant role for Toronto, is set to hit free agency after the 2025 season. While Bassitt doesn’t bring the same star power as some of the elite names on the market, his profile may actually suit the Padres’ needs perfectly.
According to MLB.com writer Andrew Simon, Bassitt stands out as an ideal free-agent target for San Diego. Simon describes the veteran right-hander as a “perfect fit,” particularly given the Padres’ current circumstances.
Even after re-signing King, Simon notes that San Diego faces a complicated challenge. The team must not only find a way to cobble together enough innings to navigate the 2026 season, but also remain competitive in what figures to be a tough playoff race. With Cease now in Toronto and Darvish unavailable, the Padres bullpen depth update have already lost a substantial portion of their recent rotation output.
That depletion runs even deeper when factoring in earlier roster moves. Last summer’s trades of Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert to Kansas City further reduced the organization’s pitching inventory. When you add everything together, roughly half of the Padres’ starts from 2025 are no longer accounted for heading into 2026.
There is also the case of Joe Musgrove, who remains a key figure in San Diego’s plans but is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery. While Musgrove’s eventual return could provide a significant boost, relying on him as a sure thing would be risky given the uncertainty that comes with recovery from such a major procedure.
Under these conditions, Simon suggests that chasing a high-priced, headline-grabbing free agent may not be the most realistic or prudent approach. The Padres’ payroll situation makes a massive financial commitment unlikely, and while one can never completely rule out a bold trade orchestrated by A.J. Preller, that path comes with its own complications and costs.
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Instead, Bassitt represents a more practical alternative—one that aligns with both the Padres’ needs and their likely financial parameters. At 36 years old, Bassitt is no longer positioned to command an enormous long-term contract. Yet despite his age, his track record speaks to an uncommon level of consistency and reliability.
Over the past four seasons, Bassitt has reached the 170-inning threshold each year, a mark that underscores both his durability and his ability to shoulder a starter’s workload. In an era where many pitchers struggle to stay healthy or effective over extended stretches, that kind of dependability carries real value.
Performance-wise, Bassitt has also held his own. Since 2018, he has posted an ERA+ that has been roughly league-average or better every season. While that may not place him among the game’s elite aces, it does firmly establish him as a steady, competent starter who can be trusted to keep his team in games.
For a Padres bullpen depth update has club dealing with uncertainty throughout its rotation, that profile could serve as an ideal form of insurance. Bassitt wouldn’t need to be the star of the staff; instead, he could provide stability, soak up innings, and reduce the strain on younger or less proven arms.
This is precisely the type of signing that rarely generates splashy headlines or dominates offseason chatter. Fans might not rush to buy jerseys, and national attention would likely be minimal. But inside a clubhouse—and especially in a manager’s office—such a move could make life significantly easier.
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Knowing that every fifth day a veteran like Bassitt will take the mound, compete, and give the team a chance to win is invaluable. Managers crave predictability in their rotations, and Bassitt has built a career on delivering exactly that.
His time in Toronto offers a clear example. During his tenure with the Blue Jays, Bassitt was a dependable presence in the rotation, regularly providing quality starts and helping stabilize the staff. Even when Toronto opted to use him out of the bullpen during the postseason, he adapted to the role and performed effectively, demonstrating both versatility and professionalism.
That flexibility could also appeal to the Padres. While the expectation would be for Bassitt to start, having a pitcher capable of adjusting to different situations adds another layer of value—particularly in October, should San Diego find itself back in the playoff picture.
Beyond the numbers, Bassitt also brings the intangible benefit of experience. He has pitched meaningful games, been part of winning teams, and navigated the pressures that come with postseason expectations. For a Padres roster that blends established stars with younger contributors, that kind of veteran presence can be influential.
San Diego is not necessarily looking for a savior to single-handedly transform the rotation. What the team needs is balance—arms that can reliably cover innings, prevent games from spiraling early, and give the offense a fair chance to do its job. Bassitt fits that mold as well as almost anyone available.
In the broader context of roster construction, a move like this would reflect a calculated, pragmatic approach. Rather than swinging for the fences or overextending financially, the Padres would be addressing a clear weakness with a proven, cost-effective solution.
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It may not be flashy, but it would be smart.
As the Padres look ahead, their path back to contention will depend largely on how well they solve their pitching puzzle. Retaining Michael King was an important first step, but it cannot be the last. Adding a durable, experienced arm like Chris Bassitt could go a long way toward stabilizing the rotation and keeping San Diego competitive over the long haul.
In a season where innings will matter as much as star power, Bassitt’s consistency and reliability could end up being exactly what the Padres need most.
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