The two months following the MLB All-Star Game for the San Diego Padres are going to be a straight up dead sprint to the finish line for the MLB playoffs, where the team currently sits tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for the top spot.
But if the Padres can’t solve the issues they are suffering from behind home plate, then sooner than later, playoffs might not even be an option.
Martin Maldonaldo has been mediocre in the 2025 season, and that’s putting it nicely.
Yes, the 38-year-old is set to retire at the end of the year, which should give the team all the more motivation to get on the hunt for a new backstop.
The former Gold Glove awardee is currently batting .177 with four home runs and eight runs batted in during the 49 games he has seen action this year.
Luckily for “Slam Diego,” there lie many options for a replacement, and that starts with their own Luis Campusano, who has yet to make a huge impact in the San Diego organization, but then again, he hasn’t really gotten a chance, especially when he’s only played in nine games this season.
And even then, another backup option wouldn’t hurt the team at this point in the season.
Should the team decide to take advantage, there are two very good offensive catchers in the American League that would fit in perfectly in San Diego, the first being Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins.
The sixth-year catcher out of Raleigh, North Carolina is fresh off the best offensive season of his career, hitting 21 home runs with 64 runs batted in, and hitting .276 in 2023.
Jeffers has eased off to six home runs and 29 runs batted in the season so far, but his defensive prowess and underrated offense are just what the Friars need if they want a shot at challenging Los Angeles for the NL West crown.
The other option is the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers.
If the Padres are really looking for an offensive boost, then they should definitely give the A’s a call about their fourth-year catcher that swatted 29 home runs and 80 RBI last year, and is already sitting at 12 long balls this year pre-All-Star break.
There’s a lot of time between now and July 31, so the Padres still have time, but a decision will still need to come quick and early.
