RADIO
Samad Taylor Emerging as a High-Upside Speed Target on the Waiver Wire
Entering 2026, San Diego Padres outfielder Samad Taylor had logged just 14 big league plate appearances since the start of 2024. However, the 27-year-old posted a .906 OPS across 222 Triple-A plate appearances to open the year, earning himself a promotion to the big leagues in early June. Taylor has performed well in a limited sample size since being called up, hitting .340/.400/.420 with one home run, eight RBI, 11 runs scored, and four stolen bases across 57 plate appearances. Taylor has struck out in 28.8% of his trips to the plate, so his batting average is likely to drop as his .485 batting average on balls in play regresses to the mean. Still, Taylor offers elite speed upside as long as he can hold onto a regular role. He stole 44 bases across 137 games at Triple-A in 2025 and 50 across 136 Triple-A games in 2024. For deeper league managers in need of speed, Taylor is a viable waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Gavin Sheets Remains a Power Bat to Target on the Waiver Wire Despite Recent Skid
Across 213 plate appearances in 2026, San Diego Padres first baseman/outfielder Gavin Sheets is hitting .223/.315/.441 with 10 home runs, 26 RBI, 26 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The lefty-swinger is limited to a big-side platoon role, as he's hit .143 in 38 plate appearances against left-handed pitching. Still, Sheets' 9.5% barrel rate and 45.3% hard-hit rate both support solid power output. He also owns a 10.8% walk rate, which helps lift his production floor and keeps his playing time stable. Sheets typically hits in the heart of the Padres' lineup on days that he starts. If some of San Diego's struggling hitters around Sheets start to heat up over the summer months, Sheets will be in a good position to rack up counting stats. His upside is limited by his lack of ability to hit lefties, but Sheets still profiles as a solid deep-league power bat to target on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ramon Laureano Out 4-5 Months After Hip Surgery
San Diego Padres left fielder Ramon Laureano (hip) will miss four to five months after having labrum surgery on his right hip on Friday, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. As a result, the Padres announced on Friday that they transferred Laureano to the 60-day injured list. It's unlikely that Laureano will return for the Friars this season, which is why Acee suggests that the offensively-challenged Padres could now be looking for a left-handed-hitting outfielder who can play left field at the early August trade deadline. Bryce Johnson is starting in left and batting seventh for SD in Friday's series opener against the New York Mets and right-hander Christian Scott at Petco Park, but Johnson isn't the answer to San Diego's hitting woes this season and profiles best as a fourth or fifth outfielder. The 31-year-old Laureano will end up finishing his first full season with the Pads with a disappointing .203/.286/.374 slash line, .660 OPS, seven home runs, 21 RBI, seven steals, and 23 runs scored across just 53 games. Gavin Sheets will most likely see most of the starts in left going forward, opening up more playing time at first base for Ty France.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Samad Taylor Worth an Add After Impressive Start to Triple-A Season?
The San Diego Padres are calling up second baseman/outfielder Samad Taylor to the big leagues on Wednesday, according to Milb Central. Taylor will get the call from Triple-A El Paso to take the roster spot of veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos, who was designated for assignment. The 27-year-old will get the call to the big leagues after hitting an impressive .319/.406/.500 with a .906 OPS, seven home runs, 25 RBI, 35 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 51 games and 222 plate appearances on the farm. The former 10th-round selection by the Cleveland Guardians back in 2016 has only appeared in 38 big-league games with the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners since debuting in the majors back in 2023, so he doesn't have much experience. Taylor could get some run in SD's outfield now that Castellanos is out of the picture, but he's no lock to play regularly and could quickly be shuttled back to El Paso. In 83 plate appearances in the majors, Taylor has gone 15-for-73 (.205) with no homers, four RBI, eight steals, seven walks, and 24 strikeouts in 38 games.
Source: Milb Central
Source: Milb Central
Nick Castellanos Designated for Assignment by Padres
The San Diego Padres have designated outfielder Nick Castellanos for assignment on Wednesday and recalled utility man Samad Taylor from Triple-A El Paso. Castellanos, who signed a one-year deal with the Padres this offseason, has struggled in 2026, hitting just .191 with a .560 OPS, four home runs, and 20 RBI in 39 games. The move clears a roster spot as the Padres continue to shuffle their outfield and infield depth. Taylor, who has played both the outfield and second base, gets another opportunity in the big leagues. While the Padres currently have a crowded outfield, his versatility could help him carve out a role in the near term. With Triple-A this season, Taylor has posted an impressive .319/.406/.500 line with seven doubles, seven home runs, and nine stolen bases over 51 games.
Source: Kevin Acee
Source: Kevin Acee
Ramon Laureano Lands on Injured List With Hip Inflammation
The San Diego Padres placed outfielder Ramon Laureano (hip) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 31) on Tuesday with right-hip inflammation, according to MLB.com. Laureano went 0-for-3 in Saturday's loss to the Washington Nationals and did not play on Sunday in the series finale. The Padres had an off day on Monday. The 31-year-old will now miss at least the next 10 days with an injury that could have been the reason why he had been struggling at the plate for a while. The Dominican outfielder is barely hitting over the Mendoza Line (.203) in 182 at-bats this season, adding seven home runs, 21 RBI, 23 runs scored, and seven stolen bases with a .203/.286/.374 slash line. Laureano hit just .133 (10-for-75) with three homers, two doubles, three RBI, four steals, nine runs scored, 10 walks, and 30 K's in 25 games in May and had gone 4-for-34 (.118) with two homers, a double, two RBI, three steals, four runs, four walks, and 13 strikeouts in his last 11 games since May 17. Hopefully, the Friars will get better production out of him when he recovers from his hip injury. In the meantime, Bryce Johnson could see more run in the outfield in San Diego against righties.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Gavin Sheets Worth an Add for Power Upside
San Diego Padres first baseman/outfielder Gavin Sheets is putting together a very productive season and could be a worthwhile waiver wire pickup for managers needing corner infield or outfield help. In just 163 at-bats, the lefty has already hit nine home runs with 23 RBI and is posting a strong .807 OPS. He's been very effective against right-handed pitching, posting a .879 OPS with an elite .529 SLG. While his playing time can be inconsistent as a platoon bat, when he's in the lineup, he's been producing at a high level. Under the hood, Sheets is impacting the ball quite hard, as evidenced by his 71st percentile 45.5% hard-hit rate and 82nd percentile 74.8 mph average bat speed. Sheets is still widely available in most leagues, sitting at just 23% rostered on Yahoo, and offers a nice combination of power and on-base skills. If you're looking for a depth outfielder or corner infielder with above-average power, he's worth a look.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Padres Promote Outfield Prospect Jase Bowen to Major Leagues, Worth a Speculative Add?
San Diego Padres outfield prospect Jase Bowen is being promoted to the major leagues, according to Kiley McDaniel of ESPN. Bowen is currently ranked as the team's No. 23 prospect on MLB.com but has put together a strong start to the Triple-A regular season. The first 11th round pick from the 2019 MLB Draft has posted an impressive .292/.362/.600 slash line with a .962 OPS. During this 49-game stint, Bowen has tallied 11 doubles, 13 round-trippers, and swiped seven bags. This is a major improvement when looking at the .802 OPS he carried in the upper minors during the 2025 campaign. Fantasy managers should monitor his usage as he could eventually carve out a role in the San Diego outfield, given his hot start. For now, he is worth a look in deeper 12+ team leagues with five outfielder spots.
Source: Kiley McDaniel
Source: Kiley McDaniel
Fernando Tatis Jr. Snaps Lengthy Home Run Drought, Sign of Better Days Ahead?
San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2-for-5 with a single and a solo homer during Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals. In doing so, the 27-year-old snapped a lengthy power drought, as he hadn't previously homered since September 27, 2025. This season, Tatis is slashing .271/.346/.324 with one home run, 18 RBI, 14 steals, a 10% walk rate, and a 22% strikeout rate. Although his speed had allowed him to maintain decent production in fantasy baseball leagues, his lack of power this year was hurting his fantasy stock and was disappointing for fantasy managers. Now that he has one home run behind him, perhaps the floodgates have opened and he'll be able to consistently tap into more power going forward. He's trending up in fantasy baseball leagues, ranking as the #14 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is it Time to Buy Low on Fernando Tatis Jr.?
Somehow, San Diego Padres second baseman/outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. is without a home run with 54 games and 231 plate appearances under his belt in 2026. At this point, many fantasy managers might be giving up hope that he'll homer at all this year. The three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger winner has never been cheaper in terms of acquisition cost in a trade, so now is the time to strike. Overall, Tatis is slashing .260/.339/.300 with a .639 OPS, 16 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 19 runs scored in 200 at-bats. Although he's not pulling the ball in the air, which explains the lack of power, Tatis has actually hit quite well in May, going 24-for-88 (.273) with two doubles, a triple, three RBI, eight runs, and six stolen bases. The Dominican star is on a modest four-game hitting streak and has gone 14-for-37 (.378) in his last 10 games, so it's not like he's doing nothing at all, and the stolen bases have helped. Tatis' expected slugging sits in just the 46th percentile, but he's in the 96th percentile in hard-hit rate and the 73rd percentile in xwOBA. Tatis will homer eventually, but even if he doesn't return to the 20-homer mark, which is unlikely at this point, he will at least be a major asset with his wheels.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Gavin Sheets a Priority Waiver-Wire Addition Amid Hitting Streak?
San Diego Padres first baseman Gavin Sheets has recorded a base hit in five consecutive games, offering consistency and upside in fantasy baseball. Over his last 13 games, Sheets is 15-for-39 (.385) with four home runs, 10 walks, and nine strikeouts. This level of productivity has turned him into a priority waiver wire addition, especially for fantasy managers in search of someone to occupy a first base or outfield spot. In total this year, Sheets is slashing .255/.335/.503 with a career-high 139 wRC+. He also has nine home runs, putting him on pace to slug 20+ homers for the first time in his career. Despite being a key bright spot for a 31-win Padres team, Sheets is rostered in just 29% of fantasy baseball leagues. That means he's available in 71% of leagues, making him a priority target for plenty of fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jackson Merrill has Sore Ribs, Expected to Avoid Injured List
San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (ribs) is dealing with some sore ribs, but he is expected to be ready to play in the next few days, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Merrill most likely will not be in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Athletics at Petco Park, but he could return before Sunday's series opener. The 23-year-old tweaked his ribs while trying to rob a Shohei Ohtani home run in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, and it was originally reported as a potential back injury. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now and check back later this weekend to see if he can return to the starting nine. Bryce Johnson could make a start on Friday in center field for the Friars against left-hander Jeffrey Springs. Merrill, along with plenty of other Padres hitters, has been a disappointment offensively so far in 2026. He entered Friday's games hitting just .203/.273/.322 with a career-low .595 OPS, four homers, 19 RBI, nine steals, and 23 runs scored across 47 games. UPDATE: Merrill is out of Friday's lineup.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Jackson Merrill Tweaks his Back on Wednesday, Pulled Early
San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill (back) appeared to tweak his back while leaping up against the fence while going after Shohei Ohtani's leadoff home run in the first inning at Petco Park in Wednesday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers and was pulled from the game, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. Merrill struck out in his only plate appearance before being replaced in center field by Bryce Johnson in the fifth inning. The Padres can ill-afford an injury to one of their best hitters and best defenders. For now, we'll consider Merrill day-to-day, but we should have a better idea of his status going forward after he undergoes some imaging. San Diego has a scheduled day off on Thursday before starting a three-game series against the Athletics on Friday night, but Merrill might not be ready to go for that one. If Merrill is forced to miss significant time, Johnson would likely see an uptick in playing time in center field, which would be a massive downgrade for the Friars. Merrill has yet to repeat his strong rookie season in 2024, when he hit 24 homers, drove in 90, and stole 16 bases, and he entered Wednesday's contest with a weak .205/.275/.324 slash line, four homers, 19 RBI, nine steals, and 23 runs in 46 games.
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Source: ESPN.com - Alden Gonzalez
Gavin Sheets on Fire at the Plate, Hits Two More Homers in Seattle
San Diego Padres outfielder/first baseman Gavin Sheets is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. The 30-year-old left-handed slugger carried the Friars' offense on Sunday as they finished off another three-game sweep of the hosting Seattle Mariners in an 8-3 win, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two home runs, four RBI, and two walks to raise his season average to .262 and his OPS to .896. Both of Sheets' long balls at T-Mobile Park came off right-handed starter George Kirby. It was the second straight day that Sheets cleared the fences in Seattle, and he extended his current hitting streak to six games after starting May pretty cold offensively. During his six-game hitting streak, Sheets has gone 10-for-16 (.625) with four homers, a double, eight RBI, six runs scored, and a stolen base. He continues to produce for fantasy managers with outfield and first base eligibility, and he's now slashing .262/.340/.556 with nine total home runs, 10 doubles, 21 RBI, 19 runs scored, and three stolen bases in his 141 plate appearances in 2026.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Jackson Merrill Remains a Stolen Base Threat
San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill is off to a subpar start to the season at the plate, but he has been able to salvage his fantasy value by stealing bases. The 23-year-old has swiped eight bags this year, so he's already halfway to his career-high mark of 16. He's also taking more free passes, as his walk rate has jumped from 6.8% in 2025 to 8.7% in 2026. The bad news is that he's slashing just .221/.294/.351 with four home runs, a career-high 23.8% strikeout rate, and a career-low 84 wRC+. The steals can only help him so much in fantasy baseball, and managers would love to see him get back on track at the plate. There's hope that he'll be able to bounce back, as the Padres' everyday center fielder still checks in as the #24 outfielder in RotoBaller's latest fantasy baseball rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
