The Padres have agreed to a minor league deal with infielder José Miranda, reports Aram Leighton of Just Baseball. The Boras Corporation client also receives an invite to big league camp in spring training.
Miranda, 28 in June, seemed like a long-term piece for the Twins not too long ago. He debuted with Minnesota in 2022 and hit 15 home runs in 483 plate appearances. His 5.8% walk rate was quite low but he was also tough to punch out, going down on strikes just 18.8% of the time. He finished that year with a .268/.325/.426 line and 116 wRC+, splitting his time between the two infield corners.
A shoulder injury wrecked his 2023 season. He required surgery and only got into 40 games, with a dismal .211/.263/.303 line in those. He got back on track the following year. He only hit nine homers in 429 plate appearances but slashed .284/.322/.441 for a 114 wRC+. Another swoon came in 2025. He started the year with a .167/.167/.250 line and got optioned to the minors in mid-April. He spent the rest of the year in Triple-A with a dismal .195/.272/.296 line at that level.
The lack of offense really hurts Miranda. He’s not a fast runner and his defensive grades are mostly poor. He’s work at third base has been worth minus-14 Outs Above Average in his career, though Defensive Runs Saved has given him a grade of +1. Both metrics frown upon his first base work, as Miranda has a -6 DRS and -4 OAA there.
He exhausted his final option this year and will be out of options going forward. That will make it harder for him to hold a roster spot. He was passed through waivers and outrighted in November, then became a free agent.
For the Padres, there’s no harm in a non-roster pact like this. They currently have Manny Machado as their everyday third baseman, though he is going to turn 34 next summer, so perhaps the Padres might be wise to use him as the designated hitter more frequently. They reportedly have a deal in place with Sung Mun Song, which will give them more depth at both infield corners and at second base, though Song is unproven since he’s coming over from South Korea and has no major league experience. Jake Cronenworth is likely to be at second base and Gavin Sheets potentially at first, though Song could theoretically factor in at either of those positions and Cronenworth can play first. The DH spot is fairly open at the moment, so Machado or Sheets or someone else could carve out time there.
Cronenworth has been in trade rumors as the Padres look to strike a balance between competing and their keeping their financial house in order. That could change the whole picture, as could other moves or injuries. If Miranda is able to hit his way onto the roster, he is out of options but has less than three years of service time, meaning the Padres could potentially control him for four seasons.
Photo courtesy of Jordan Johnson, Imagn Images
It’s a bargain if he pays out…
Didn’t he have a long hitting streak a couple years back?
He tied the MLB record for hits in 12 straight ABs.
Yup, a couple of those were bleeders. His main issue is he has no strike zone recognition. He swings at everything and makes contact with everything so he’s putting pitches in play in 0 and 1 strike counts that were so far out of the zone that his hard hit rate is about the worst in all of baseball.
Haha so he’s Luis Arraez’s doppelganger?
2026 is an even numbered year. He should be a decent utility guy this season.
Web – a bank end starter or reliever to SP project or rebound guy (Gwynning and were both in on May for this spot) is sure to happen.
I’m thinking a Nicky tight pants reunion!
He’s not going to throw away his shot with the Padres.
Chiquita Banana, bring out the hats
career 101 OPS+ over 1000 ABs despite some bad stretches is not bad for a solid fielder on a minor league deal El Paso is looking good so far
Like this one for prellar
I don’t think Preller gets enough credit for the Sheets signing. He’s become a much better player in San Diego once he got out of Baseball’s purgatory, known as the Chicago White Sox. I remember one game last season when Sheets almost killed himself making an attempt for line drive fly ball in the outfield. I instantly become a fan of a player who gives 110% effort on every play. Didnt he and O’Hearn make big improvements against Lefties last season?
I’m not understanding why Gavin Sheets isn’t our (Padres) starting 1st Basemen, Ramon Laureano in the Left field, and placing Miranda as the primary DH.
Preller isn’t really making points with majority of the Padre fans (In my opinion) right now because it seems where we need to most help at is our Starting Rotation with the Pitchers, and has made the Padres top heavy with the position players.
I understand how in the past that would kind of favor the Padres for trades, but that was the Past. Now, when AJ approaches teams for certain pitchers it seems like the other team starts flashing the “Neon light for position players” starting with Tatis Jr. Merrill, etc..eventually AJ’s hand is going to be forced where he’s not going to land needed starters without giving up a big name or two.
I mean Meadows we should of went balls to the wall to bring him in, with Imai again, the Padres need to be doing the same thing.
I wasn’t disappointed when O’Hearn elected to sign elsewhere he made it known several times throughout the season he was going elsewhere.
But its so concerning to see Laureano,Cronenworth, and Pivetta names being used as Trade bait. If the Padres ever want to set a presidence that the Padres have the intended direction set for a World Series title and stop all the disappointments, they HAVE to keep a strong team together for longer than 1 yr – Stats show a successful team takes an average of 4 to 5 yrs. to do that (Win a World Series) and that is IF the main nucleolus together. STOP playing this 1 season and gone with the players
Thank you for the information and setting me straight – as I’m progressing in agee I’ve noticed a slight decrease in other things.. lol Everything your saying DOES make sense.