The Padres are exercising their $6.5MM option on outfielder Ramón Laureano, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. That was an easy call coming off Laureano’s excellent 2025 season.
The righty-hitting outfielder put up a .281/.342/.512 batting line with 24 home runs over 488 plate appearances. He divided that between the Orioles and Padres, who acquired him alongside Ryan O’Hearn in a deadline deal that sent six prospects to Baltimore. Laureano and O’Hearn each continued to hit well down the stretch. Laureano posted a .269/.323/.489 line with nine longballs and doubles apiece and a pair of triples in 50 games with San Diego.
A broken index finger on his right hand kept Laureano off the Padres’ Wild Card Series roster. It’s not expected to impact his availability for Spring Training and certainly wasn’t going to lead them to reconsider a bargain option price. Laureano will be back as San Diego’s starting left fielder. He’ll slot alongside Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill in the outfield for new manager Craig Stammen.
O’Hearn and Luis Arraez are both hitting free agency, so the Padres will need to find an answer at first base or designated hitter. Laureano’s presence means the Padres won’t need Gavin Sheets to play much outfield if everyone’s healthy. The lefty-hitting Sheets had a bad September but was reasonably productive overall, batting .252/.317/.429 with 19 homers. He’s not going to keep the Padres from considering alternatives at first base but projects as the starter there for now — at least against right-handed pitching.
This was the seventh and final option decision for San Diego. Laureano and Wandy Peralta are back, as the lefty reliever decided not to opt out of the remaining two years on his contract. Robert Suarez, Michael King, Elias Díaz, Tyler Wade and Kyle Hart are all free agents. Suarez and King declined their options, while the Padres bought out Díaz, Hart and Wade.
This one falls squarely in “no duh” territory.
Love this move. The outfield is set.
I’m an Orioles fan and kind of wanted to keep him for 2026, but I also really liked the prospect package we got from you guys for him, so all good in the hood.
I don’t think Elias can resist a bulk grab bag of prospects.
Since coming over 3 of the 6 really didn’t impress. Looks like Hightower had a decent finish, Neighbors did great and may end up in AAA to start next year, and Smith got promoted to A+ very late in the season.
All in the too soon to tell stage, though if Neighbors keeps it up he may end up getting a bullpen look in 2026.
However, since the team is still looking for a RH power bat, it would be nice to have had Laureano in 2026. You’re welcome, SD!
Too early to say anything about the prospects but Neighbors looked good. Bateman was the guy Elias really wanted in the package. I’m excited to see what he looks like after an offseason with us. We bring pitchers along slowly so I don’t expect to see him in the bigs for awhile.
Laureano fits pretty well on our team so it sucks to lose him but we have a whole offseason to find a replacement. If we do then all is well.
Craig Stammen moves fast
Stammen had no say in this matter
A parking lot attendant could’ve made this easy decision.
They were actually considering not picking up the option? What am I missing? Or is this just bad writing?
bad writing
The article literally says it was an “easy call”. Don’t know what else you want.
It did not say that originally and it previously made it sound like a borderline decision, which it obviously was not after his big 2025.
@King
These articles in their “post now” form contains little to no commentary whatsoever. I think you read whatever you wanted to into it and it wasn’t there. TR has been pretty clear for months this decision was expected.
I realize that and didn’t really care either way myself, just pointing out that the other comment didn’t come completely out of nowhere.
Shocker
Best year since ’19.
he’s had a strange up & down career. A pair of elite seasons bookend a few lousy ones.
Nothing really strange about steroids.
Glad to see him back and at a good price.
Really wish the reds had made a trade for him