The Padres announced Monday that they’ve signed right-hander Daison Acosta to a one-year, major league contract. Their 40-man roster is now up to 37 players.
Acosta, 27, has never pitched in the majors but enjoyed a strong 2025 showing in the Nationals’ system, pitching to a combined 2.42 ERA with a 33% strikeout rate, 12.4% walk rate and 44.1% ground-ball rate across three levels in a total of 52 relief innings. He sits 94.5 mph on his four-seamer, coupling that heater with a splitter, sinker and slider to round out a four-pitch repertoire.
Originally an international signee with the Mets out of his native Dominican Republic way back in 2016, Acosta made his way to the Nats by way of the Rule 5 Draft’s minor league phase back in 2023. He spent two seasons with the Nationals organization and pitched well in both seasons, logging a sub-3.00 ERA while striking out just shy of one-third of his opponents. He’s posted gargantuan swinging-strike rates of 19.1% and 17.3%, respectively, across the past two minor league seasons.
Acosta hasn’t started a game since 2022, so it seems he’ll be a pure depth signing for the San Diego bullpen. It’s a low-cost pickup, presumably paying Acosta the MLB minimum for any time spent in the majors on a split deal. He still has a full slate of minor league options, so the Padres can send him to Triple-A next spring without first placing him on waivers.
“paying Acosta the MLB minimum for any time spent in the majors on a split deal”
So… is it a majors contract or a split deal?
Maybe it’s only considered a split contract when they aren’t added to the 40 man yet like he is.
A split contract basically means the team pays him the league minimum rate only when he’s on the major league roster. When he’s in the minors he’s paid differently.
Majors contract but because he’s never touched a 40-man roster before they can option him without exposing him to waivers or getting his approval first. He gets paid the major league minimum for any time in the majors or on the major league IL and AAA salary for any time he spends optioned to AAA.
Its a split deal
Cheap innings. Wonder what Acosta will bring to the Padres.
This is the second deal like this the padres have done in the last week. Adcock was a similar deal.
They both had upside but lacking experience.
Padres are gonna trade and or make some relievers starters next season.
Stammen said today that Miller, Morejon, and Morgan are staying in the bullpen because “Its a risky proposition health-wise and performance-wise”.
Maybe they stretch Brito back out or try to start Hoeing, but I would guess that they’re going to try to trade relievers that are making money to free up money to for starters.
Herc- yeah I just read that.
Doesn’t mean nobody will be stretched out but it’s not gonna be a back end guy.
Half the padres 40 man roster is full of relievers. I think at least one will be traded. Especially when you see the price of relievers in this market. About as much as a mid roster job arm was getting.
Well, he won’t Acosta lot…
Darn. I had him going to the Angels.
Could it be the Padres plan to fill their 13 man pitching staff openings with rule 5 picks in a couple of days?
I’d be very surprised if they don’t grab at least one starter. Especially after their success with Kolek.
Wouldn’t put it passed them to add one. Prob not to be a starter next season as that jumps is a big one.
Curious to why the Nationals wouldn’t hold on to him. The stats reported in this article look great.
Wondering the same thing. Walk rate is a bit high so maybe that.
At times, it’s just timing. He could have been injured when they needed a reliever on the big club, then when he was ready, they had a full house. Or, he had a bad month when his cup of coffee arrived. Things like that.
Huh. The Padres all shortstop plan worked so well on the position player side of things, it looks like they are trying all relief pitchers for the other side of the roster.
Creative at least.
Shortstop can play anywhere, relief pitchers can pitch any innings. So it seems to be the plan.
Who?
Exactly, the cat sounds like a San Diego Padres already!
Padres loading up on low cost relievers with great stuff in the minors. Does that mean they will be trading from their bullpen staff?