What are Padres’ plans for JP Sears?

It seems like every Major League Baseball club is seeking starting pitching depth for the coming 2026 season. The San Diego Padres are taking a closer look at left-handed starting pitcher JP Sears in Peoria this spring, with the hope he rebounds from a rough start with the team.

The trade and free agent market offer slim pickings 

The Padres’ roster is not perfect, as they need a first baseman, a right-handed designated hitter, and another bullpen arm. The front office’s primary objective is to acquire more starting pitching depth before Spring Training begins. However, finding quality options has been hard this offseason.

Now, the Friars must assess all of their internal options before venturing back on the open market. Right now, the starting rotation has three starters, with Joe Musgrove returning at some point in the 2026 season. Major League clubs need rotation depth, as injuries necessitate the use of more than five starters in a given season. 

The road to San Diego has been bumpy

The Seattle Mariners selected Sears in the 2017 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut with the New York Yankees in 2022. Later in the same season, he was sent to the Athletics in a trade-deadline deal. 

Following a trade deadline deal with the Athletics, he struggled in five starts with the Friars. Sears allowed 15 runs on 31 hits in 24.2 innings pitched. The results were not pretty for the lefthander, as he posted the highest ERA (5.47) of his four-year major league career.

His pitching repertoire features a four-seam fastball, a sweeper, and a changeup, as Sears is effective when changing speeds (92-to-79 mph) to keep hitters off-balance in the batter’s box. However, he runs into trouble when they extend at-bats because of the inability to record strike three. Sears has a poor strikeout rate (19.7%) but does show good command during most pitching outings. His walk rate (6.8%) is among the lowest in the majors. 

Sears faces stiff competition for an Opening Day roster spot. He joins a mix of prospects and veterans battling for the fifth starter position. The winner must provide length and avoid taxing the bullpen. Sears’ experience gives him an edge in securing a rotation spot. His performance in Cactus League games will determine if he contributes as a member of the starting rotation or in the bullpen.

In today’s baseball, acquiring starting pitching always comes first for baseball franchises. However, it does not mean overpaying for a free agent or mortgaging the future for anything less than a No. 1 starter.

With a career 4.53 ERA in 102 starts, the Padres hope Sears can become an effective starter under the tutelage of pitching coach Ruben Niebla. He must be able to navigate through the challenge of being a starting rotation pitching candidate.

The Friar Faithful hope the front office can find the right fit that strengthens the rotation before Opening Day.