Report: Padres add 4 veterans to Opening Day roster
The San Diego Padres informed Jose Iglesias, Yuli Gurriel, Gavin Sheets, and Martín Maldonado that they made the Opening Day roster Sunday, sources told Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Iglesias hit .200 with three RBIs in 11 spring games for the Padres after putting together a career year for the New York Mets last season. The slick-fielding 35-year-old slashed .337/.381/.448 in 2024.
Gurriel, 40, also joined the Padres on a minor-league deal. The former batting champ recorded 10 hits and six RBIs in 15 games this spring. He'll provide San Diego with depth at first base behind Luis Arraez.
Sheets had a terrific spring, slashing .302/.362/.679 with six homers and 12 RBIs in 53 at-bats. The left-handed hitter could get a lot of at-bats at DH for the Padres.
Maldonado will fill the back-up catching role behind starter Elias Díaz. The 38-year-old hit .091 in spring and was one of the worst hitters in baseball last season when he hit .119/.174/.230 in 48 games for the Chicago White Sox. He's been a terrific defender throughout his career, recording 59 defensive runs saved in 14 big-league seasons.
The Padres gave the final position-player spot on their Opening Day roster to outfielder Brandon Lockridge on Monday, according to Acee.