Padres addressing left field with Heyward, Connor Joe (reports)
This browser does not support the video element.
The Padres were reportedly busy on Friday addressing their lack of depth in left field. San Diego and outfielder/first baseman Connor Joe are near an agreement on a contract, a source told MLB.com¡¯s AJ Cassavell. Later, The Athletic reported that the club has reached a deal with veteran outfielder Jason Heyward. The Padres have not confirmed either deal.
Joe, 32, is a San Diego native and was originally drafted 39th overall by the Pirates out of the University of San Diego in 2014. He has played during parts of five seasons in the Majors with the Giants, Rockies and Pirates.
As a rookie with the Rockies in 2021, Joe hit .285/.379/.469 (116 OPS+) with eight home runs in 63 games. Following a down year at the plate in ¡¯22, he was traded to the Pirates. In two seasons with Pittsburgh he posted a .726 OPS with nine homers in 416 plate appearances.
Heyward, who is entering his age-35 campaign, has a longer and more productive track record, though his offensive production has been inconsistent over the past decade. The 14th overall selection of the 2007 Draft by the Braves, Heyward made his much-anticipated MLB debut with a homer in his first plate appearance on April 1, 2010, against the Cubs.
This browser does not support the video element.
After finishing second in National League Rookie of the Year balloting to fellow Georgia high school standout Buster Posey, Heyward posted a .769 OPS and won three of five consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 2011-15. Though he had a difficult season at the plate in '16, he helped the Cubs win their first World Series in 108 years.
Heyward spent the next six seasons with Chicago before signing as a free agent with the Dodgers in 2023. He enjoyed a bounce-back performance with Los Angeles, turning in an .813 OPS with 15 home runs in 377 plate appearances as a platoon option. Last season, he finished with a .700 OPS with 10 homers for the Dodgers and Astros.
With the additions, the Padres are hoping to complete an outfield picture that already features sluggers Jackson Merrill in center and Fernando Tatis Jr. in right.