The San Diego Padres have had a consistent option at second base over the last few years. Jake Cronenworth, for better or worse, has manned the position faithfully. Cronenworth was fantastic in 2021-22, but has declined sharply since. Because of that, the Friars have been looking for an upgrade in recent years. They’ve pondered shopping Cronenworth every offseason, but have never managed to trade him. It’s unlikely they do this time around, but they could throw him in as a kicker or keep him in a utility role if they sign someone else. Here are a few free agents for San Diego to turn to.
Who Could Man Second Base for Padres in 2027?
A Veteran Finding His Stride
Prior to 2026, Brandon Lowe had spent the entirety of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was their everyday second baseman before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of the season. He now enters free agency having put up a career-best season in ’26. Lowe slugged 35 home runs and batted .260/.331/.493 in 150 games. He also posted a career-high 5.4 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
Much of that was due to Lowe’s defense taking massive strides forward. He was named a National League Gold Glove finalist after posting career highs in Fielding Run Value (+12) and Outs Above Average (+15). Those marks put Lowe third in both FRV and OAA among all second basemen. That all-around play will put Lowe high up on the free agency board. However, because he’s entering his age-33 season, the veteran could be signed to a shorter contract with a lower AAV.
The Reunion Story
Luis Arraez was a key piece of the San Diego lineup from 2024-25. After being traded over from the Miami Marlins at the beginning of the ’24 season, Arraez immediately became one of the most potent bats in their lineup. His contact-heavy approach won him a batting title in his first year with the Friars. He had a down year in 2025 (he still batted .292) before entering free agency.
The San Francisco Giants signed him to a one-year deal to play second base. With infield coach Ron Washington, the move paid off. Arraez’s typically faulty defense took an incredible turn. He became one of the best defensive infielders (+10 FRV, +12 OAA) alongside his phenomenal bat (.310). He was edged out of his fourth batting title by Gabriel Moreno, but Arraez probably would have won if he hadn’t ended the season on the injured list.
The problem is that signing Arraez could become quite expensive. Plenty of teams need a second baseman, and Arraez has proven himself to be one of the top options. However, the infielder loved playing in San Diego and could come back to man the keystone position if the price is right for both sides. The 29-year-old has proven himself valuable for the Friars before and would slot perfectly into San Diego’s lineup.
An NPB Triple Crown Winner
This is a true high-risk, high-reward opportunity for San Diego. Teruaki Sato could be one of the best hitters to ever come out of Japan. In six NPB seasons, Sato has posted a .273/.338/.516 slash line with an .854 OPS. He’s also the most recent winner of the league’s Triple Crown after slugging 39 homers and batting .306 in 2026. Sato has hit 39-plus home runs in two consecutive seasons, but it’s worth wondering if that can translate to the MLB.
Plenty of Japanese hitters have struggled to acclimate to the major leagues in the past, and Sato could be no different. On the other hand, Sato represents an incredible opportunity for the Padres. The infielder has been a primary third baseman for most of his professional career, but could certainly make the shift to the keystone position if asked to.
Sato will likely command a similar contract to what Munetaka Murakami did last offseason. The market on Murakami ended up softening due to his extremely high strikeout numbers. Executives worried whether the strikeouts would increase and the home runs would decrease, so the slugger ended up signing for just $34 million over two years with the Chicago White Sox. Sato has posted consecutive seasons with 160-plus strikeouts. That could soften his market enough for San Diego to snatch him up.
Main Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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