Major League Baseball

San Diego Padres: All-Time 25 Man Roster

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:03 a.m. ET

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Jul 12, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres former closer Trevor Hoffman comes out from the bullpen before the 2016 MLB All Star Game at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

We continue our off-season project in putting together the San Diego Padres All-Time Top 25 man roster

The San Diego Padres have never won a World Series. They’ve never pitched a no-hitter. At times, it may seem like they are in a perpetual state of rebuilding. That doesn’t mean that they haven’t had their own collection of All-Stars and Hall of Famers since their inception in 1969.

Things didn’t come together for the team until 1984 when the Padres made their first playoff appearance and won their first NL Pennant after keeping the Chicago Cubs curse rolling in the NLCS. They would eventually lose to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.

The team would fall on hard times again and wouldn’t rebound until 1998. Led by Ken Caminiti and Tony Gwynn, a rotation headlined by Kevin Brown and closer Trevor Hoffman the team won the pennant again but lost to the Yankees in the World Series.

The team had some success in 2005 and 2006 winning back-to-back division titles but fell just short for the Wild Card in 2007 after losing to the Colorado Rockies in a Wild Card playoff game.

The Padres have gone through some more transition since that time. They are now being led by A.J. Preller through a second transition phase since he took over the club.

Preller is attempting to rebuild the farm system that he took down in his first attempt.

So who made the Padres All-Time 25 man roster? Let’s take a look.

C- Terry Kennedy

Before the 1981 season, the Padres made a blockbuster deal shipping out two former Oakland A’s in Gene Tenace and Rollie Fingers to the Cardinals for a package of players that included the Cardinals former number one pick in catcher Terry Kennedy. While the Cards would deal Fingers four days after to Milwaukee, Kennedy emerged as an All-Star catcher for the Friars.

Kennedy would be a Padre from 1981-1986 and would make three All-Star teams during that time. He would finish top 10 in the NL MVP vote in 1983 and win a Silver Slugger that season.

Kennedy ranks ninth in hits in a Padres uniform. He ranks eighth in doubles from his time as a Padre.

Kennedy would drive in over 90 runs twice, catch in over 140 games every year except his first year with the club and in 1982 hit 42 doubles which is the sixth highest total for any Padre in any single season.

Before the 1987 season, Kennedy would be dealt to the Orioles in a deal for pitcher Storm Davis. He would make one more All-Star team and be a starter with the Giants as well, but never quite produce to the levels that he did with the Padres.

1B- Adrian Gonzalez

In the 2005 off-season, the Padres were looking to add some pop to a team that had finished a little over .500. The Texas Rangers needed some help at the end of the game. So the teams swung a deal. The Padres sent Akinori Otsuka plus two other players for Chris Young, Terrmel Sledge and a young top prospect at first base named Adrian Gonzalez. The deal worked out rather well.

Gonzalez was born in San Diego and instantly became a fan favorite. Gonzalez hit over 20 homers every year he was a Padre and over 30 every year except for his first year. Gonzalez became your prototypical .300/30/100 first baseman, plus he was a two time Gold Glove winner and helped lead the Padres to a division title in 2006 and a playoff game for the Wild Card in 2007.

Gonzalez is third in Padres history in WAR and OPS+, seventh in average, third in OPS, second in homers, fourth in total bases and RBI, sixth in walks.

As has happened, Gonzalez became too expensive for a team with a modest payroll. Gonzalez was shipped to the Red Sox following the 2010 season for prospects. Gonzalez now faces the Padres 19 times a year as a member of the Dodgers.

2B- Bip Roberts

There have been plenty of successful Rule V pickups throughout major league history. Roberto Clemente, Josh Hamilton, Johan Santana and Shane Victorino to name a few. In the 1980’s the Padres had a successful Rule V pick (though not to that kind of level) in Bip Roberts.

Roberts was picked by the Padres before the 1986 season where he was a bench player and pinch runner. Roberts would hit .306 and .353 in AAA the next two years and would finally get his shot to be the Padres full-time second baseman before the 1989 season.

Roberts would become a swiss army knife for the Padres appearing at second, third and the outfield for the club. He would hit over .300 in two of his three full years. He would steal over 20 bases in each of those seasons including 46 in 1990 which is ninth highest for any Padre in a single year.

Roberts is the third leading hitter in Padres history, posting a .298 average while with the club. Roberts is fourth in club history with 148 steals.

Roberts would be dealt to the Cincinnati Reds following the 1991 in exchange for Randy Myers who was part of the Nasty Boys.

SS-Garry Templeton

Garry Templeton was the Cardinals first round pick in 1974. He came up as a 20 year old in 1976 and became a two-time All-Star and led the NL in triples three times. However, the Cardinals decided to move him following the 1981 season after his popularity soured with the fanbase.

The Padres sent their young shortstop Ozzie Smith as a part of a deal that sent Templeton to the Friars. We all know what Smith turned into, but Templeton was a solid player in his own right.

He never produced like he did offensively with the Cardinals, he won one Silver Slugger Award with the Padres and was an All-Star in 1985 in his best offensive season with the club.

Templeton is the franchise leader in defensive WAR. His 1,286 games are second in club history to only Tony Gwynn. He is second in hits, singles and doubles, eighth in runs, third in total bases and seven in RBI in club history.

Templeton would remain a Padre until 1991 when the Padres sent him to the Mets for Tim Teufel. Templeton would retire following that season and was inducted into the Padres Hall of Fame back in 2015.

3B- Ken Caminiti

Sometimes teams can make one of those deals that really add to to the team and change. For the Padres, just a few days after Christmas in 1994, they made a blockbuster deal with the Houston Astros. The Padres sent Derek Bell, Doug Brocail, Ricky Gutierrez, Pedro Martinez (not that one), Phil Plantier and Craig Shipley to the Astros in exchange for Roberto Petigine, Andujar Cedeno, Brian Williams and two very important pieces in Steve Finley and Ken Caminiti.

Caminiti was an All-Star the year before and was for two of his four seasons in San Diego.

Ken was two time Gold Glover at third for the Padres and also won a silver slugger in 1996.

That same 1996 season, Ken was named NL MVP. He hit .326 with a 1.028 OPS, 40 homers and 130 RBI. Those 130 RBI still rank as the most for any Padre in one season in franchise history.

Caminiti ranks eighth in WAR, first in slugging and OPS, and seventh in RBI in franchise history.

He would leave the Padres for a return to Houston after the 1998 season.

Caminiti would admit to steroid usage while with the Padres and for years after. After his career, he battled with addiction and passed away in 2004.

Outfield- Phil Nevin

Even though the Padres lost Caminiti in free agency after the 1998 season, they found a right-handed power replacement that off-season by making a deal with the Angels sending utility infielder Andy Sheets and a minor leaguer for Nevin and a minor leaguer.

Nevin was the former number one pick in the draft and that ability began to show in San Diego. Nevin posted two seasons for the Padres where he had over 30 homers and 100 RBI including his All-Star 2001 campaign, where Nevin was one of the most feared right-handed power bats in the game.

In that season, Nevin made his lone All-Star team, hitting .306 with a OPS of .976. He would hit 41 homers and drive in 126 runs.

Injuries began to take their toll on Nevin after that excellent season. Nevin missed time with an elbow injury and a broken arm in 2002 and dislocated his shoulder in the Spring of 2003 trying to make a catch.

After returning to a full quality season in 2004, 2005 was not good. With young players like Xavier Nady and Sean Burroughs developing, the Padres decided to ship Nevin to Texas at the deadline in 2005 in exchange for Chan Ho Park.

Nevin would retire after the 2006 season and will be the Giants third base coach in 2017.

OF- Dave Winfield

Sometimes you have to get a little bit lucky to get a franchise changing player. In 1973, the San Diego Padres had the fourth pick in the draft and they decided to pick a player who had been drafted by the NBA and NFL. They got him to play baseball and it turned out to be the best decision he and the Padres made.

Dave Winfield made the majors the same year he was drafted. You don’t see that very often anymore from position players.

Winfield would develop into an All-Star in 1977 and would make the team every year with the Padres until 1980. Winfield was top 10 in MVP voting twice. His best year may have been 1979 when he hit .308 with a .953 OPS 34 homers and a league leading 118 RBI.

Winfield is second in Padres history in WAR, 10th in average, eighth in OPS, third in hits, and fourth in homers in Padres history.

As the case with many stars on the club, the team couldn’t afford to keep him and Winfield left via free agency and signed one of the biggest deals ever for the time with the New York Yankees.

Jul 10, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view of a statue of former San Diego Padres player Tony Gwynn during the All Star Game futures baseball game at PetCo Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

OF- Tony Gwynn

You can’t have any top Padres team or list without California native outfielder Anthony Keith Gwynn Sr.

Tony Gwynn was the Padres third round pick in 1981 and came up just one year later. All he would do was put together one of the greatest hitting careers of all time.

Gwynn made the All-Star team 15 times. He would lead the league in hits seven times, and average eight times including four in a row from 1994-1997. Gwynn would finish in the top 10 in NL MVP voting seven times. He would win seven SIlver Slugger awards and five Gold Gloves. He was a part of both Padres pennant winning teams in 1984 and 1998.

In Padres history, Gwynn leads in WAR, average, games, hits, runs, total bases, RBI, walks and steals. He is second in on base percentage and eighth in slugging.

Gwynn would make the Hall of Fame in 2007. He unfortunately would pass away in 2014.

C- Benito Santiago

If things like Youtube and Twitter and Gifs were around in the late 1980’s, Bentio Santiago would have been everywhere throwing out baserunners from his knees.

Alas it was not but Santiago’s exploits live on on the internet like in the clip below. (Plus having Vin Scully and Mel Allen in the same clip is just awesome)

Santiago came up in 1986 for a cup of coffee but was catcher to stay beginning in 1987 where Santiago would be named NL Rookie of the Year. Santiago hit .300 with 18 homers and 79 RBI that season. He also had a 34 game hitting streak during that year which is the longest for any rookie in history.

Benito would win four Silver Sluggers, three Gold Gloves and four straight All-Star teams from 1989-1992.

He ranks third in franchise history in Defensive WAR. His 85 homers are ninth in Franchise history.

Like many other players, Santiago’s Padres career would end with a player leaving via free agency. Santiago would have a 20 year career and play for eight different teams in his career. He was a part of the Padres 2015 Hall of Fame class.

IF- Chase Headley

Another example of the Padres drafting well was in 2005 when they used a second round pick on a player who could play a little infield and a little outfield from the University of Tennessee. Chase Headley made his Padres debut just two years later and become a steady contributor for years.

Headley would play some left field and has even played a little first base throughout his career, but he is known more for third base where he is pretty good

Headley had over 30 doubles every year except for his first year starting where he only played 91 games and in 2010 and 2011 where he had 29 and 28 respectively.

His biggest year (and if you look at his stats his outlier) came in 2012. He hit .286 with a career high in OPS at .875, homers with 31 and RBI with 115. Those 115 RBI were good enough to lead the NL. Headley won the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove that year and finished fifth in MVP balloting.

In Padres history, Headley is 10th in Offensive WAR and RBI, fifth in hits, ninth in Total Bases, fourth in doubles and seventh in walks.

Headley was in his free agent year in 2014 and was going to be too expensive for the club. Like so many others, the Padres traded him to the New York Yankees for Yangervis Solarte and a minor league pitcher.

INF- Mark Loretta

If you are going to win, sometimes it’s a free agent move you don’t expect a whole lot of ends up being pretty powerful. That comes from good scouting and maybe a little bit of luck. The Padres signed Mark Loretta prior to the 2003 season and didn’t expect him to produce the kind of numbers he did.

Loretta had his only two seasons with double digit home runs while hitting over .300 in those years. His 2004 season was excellent. Loretta made one of his two All-Star teams, won the Silver Slugger and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting for the only time in his career. Loretta hit .335 that season with an .886 OPS, 16 homers and 76 RBI. He is the only other Padre besides Tony Gwynn to have 200 or more hits in a year

Loretta’s .314 batting average as a Padre is second in franchise history behind Gwynn. He ranks seventh in OBP, tied for 10th in Slugging, and tied for ninth in OPS.

After only playing 105 games in 2005, the Padres decided to trade Loretta to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for catcher Doug Mirabeli and would make the All-Star team in his lone season as a Red Sox.

OF/1B Nate Colbert

When you are building a team literately from scratch, you do the best you can to put a decent product on the field. When the Padres were in their infancy, there was no free agency. They had to do what they could via the expansion draft.

The Padres decided to take Nate Colbert to be their first baseman and play a little outfield for them. What they got, was their first real slugger in franchise history.

Colbert would hit over 30 homers twice in his six year Padre career and over 20 every year except for his last one. Colbert would make three straight All-Star teams from 1971-1973. His 1972 season was by far his best. He would hit .250 with an .841 OPS. He would add 38 homers and 111 RBI and finish top 10 in NL MVP voting. On August 1 of that year, in a doubleheader, Colbert hit five homers, becoming only the second player to ever do so.

Colbert is tied for ninth in Padres history in WAR, sixth in slugging, seventh in runs, sixth in total bases and is still first in homers.

After struggling in 1974 to a .207 average, Colbert was shipped to Detroit. He would retire after the 1976 season, but is still one of the best power hitters the Padres ever had.

OF- Brian Giles

The Padres were close to opening their new park before the 2004 season and needed someone they could use to help attract fans into the stands. Why not get someone who is from California and who had been an All-Star caliber player?

The Padres did just that in August of 2003 by acquiring Brian Giles in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Jason Bay, Oliver Perez and a player to be named later.

Giles was a guy who didn’t hit a lot of homers, but hit a ton of doubles. He had four seasons over 30 doubles and one season with 40. Giles is also a guy who walked a ton throughout his career. Giles led the league in walks while with the Padres in 2005, where he also finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting.

Giles is tied for ninth in WAR and OPS in Padres history. He ranks sixth in OBP. He’s fourth in runs, sixth in hits and eighth in total bases. He is also third in doubles and ninth in RBI and second in walks.

Giles went through some injury problems, including an arthritic knee. He struggled with it in 2009 and retired during Spring Training in 2010

.P- Eric Show

All good teams need some players who become part of their core that aren’t highly regarded. The 1980’s Padres had Eric Show. Show was an 18th round pick of the Padres back in 1978. He came up for a cup of coffee in 1981 and became a full fledged member of the Padres rotation in 1982 where Show finished in the top 10 in Rookie of the Year voting.

Show would post five double digit winning seasons including winning 16 games in 1988. He would post five seasons of over 200 innings. Of course, what Show might be most known for is giving up Pete Rose‘s 4,192nd hit in 1985.

In Padres history, Show is the only pitcher to win 100 games. He is seventh in WAR, fourth in strikeouts, second in complete games and shutouts, He also walked the most and gave up the second most homers in Padres history.

Show ended up having back surgery towards the end of his career and developed a drug and alcohol problem. Show died in 1994 at just 37 years old.

P-Randy Jones

It’s rare that a guy can go from losing 20 plus games to winning 20 games the next year, but Padres lefty Randy Jones did just that during his career with the Padres. Jones was the Padres fifth round pick in 1972 and came up just one season later. Young pitchers have to adjust and Jones went through the school of hard knocks.

In 1973, Jones led the league in losses with 22. The next year, he would win 20 games and lead the league in ERA and finish second in Cy Young voting. IN 1976, Jones would win the Cy Young, winning 22 games, throwing 25 (!) complete games and pitching 315.1 innings.

Jones is fourth in Padres history in WAR, ninth in ERA, second in wins, seventh in WHIP, eighth in strikeouts and his 253 games started is the most in Padres history.

Jones would have surgery on his arm after that 1976 season and was never really the same pitcher. He would be traded to the Mets before the 1981 season and his career would end the very next year.

P- Jake Peavy

Like Show, Jake Peavy wasn’t exactly a bonus baby draft pick either. Peavy was the Padres 15th round pick back in the 1999 draft. Peavy would make the show in 2002 and two years later emerge as one of the best pitchers in the National League.

In 2004, at just 23 years of age, Peavy led the NL in ERA with a 2.27. The next year, he would make his first All-Star team and lead the league in strikeouts with 216.

It would all come together for Peavy in 2007. He would win pitching’s triple crown, leading in ERA (2.54) wins (19) and strikeouts (2.54). Add it up and Peavy would win the NL Cy Young Award.

In Padres history, Peavy is second in WAR, eighth in ERA, tied for second in wins, fourth in WHIP and innings and first in strikeouts.

Like so many other great Padres before him, Peavy was reaching free agency on a team not going to make the playoffs. The Padres shipped Peavy to the White Sox for Aaron Poreda, Clayton Richard and Adam Russell at the Trade Deadline in 2009.

Peavy is currently a free agent.

P- Ed Whitson

Before being a part of the New York Yankees free agent failures of the 1980’s, Ed Whitson pitched a couple of seasons with the Padres after being acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Indians prior to the 1983 season.

For the pennant winning 1984 team, Whitson went 14-8 with a 3.24 ERA in 31 starts and 189 innings pitched. He got a win in the NLCS, pitching eight innings of one run ball.

Whitson would leave after that season and go to New York. The problem was he and New York didn’t mesh and just one year later, (when you get into a bar fight with the manager and get chased by fans it isn’t exactly the best of times) the Padres re-acquried Whitson in exchange for Tim Stoddard.

Whitson would regain his form with the club, including a 16 win 1989 season at the age of 34. Whitson would retire a Padre after the 1991 season.

In Padres franchise history, Whitson ranks sixth in WAR, fourth in wins, ninth in WHIP, third in innings, seventh in strikeouts, fourth in starts and seventh in complete games.

P-Andy Ashby

When you build a team, sometimes it’s a throw in in a trade that turns out better than the pieces you originally targeted. That’s what happened to the Padres back in 1993. The Padres and Rockies made a deal where they sent Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris to Denver in exchange for Brad Ausmus, Doug Bochtler and a player to be named later.

That player turned out to be Andy Ashby. Ashby became a solid member of the Padres rotation throughout the 1990’s including their pennant winning season of 1998. Ashby made the All-Star team in 1998 and 1999. In ’98, he won a career high 17 games.

Ashby is third in WAR, fifth in wins and strikeouts, sixth in innings and eighth in shutouts in Padres history.

The Padres were getting younger and trimming some payroll after the 1999 season, so the Padres shipped Ashby to Philadelphia for three prospects. Ashby would actually come back to the Padres in 2004 and pitch in two games to finish out his career.

P- Andy Benes

Always a good idea for a team to have a long man in the bullpen so for the purpose of this, I put a sixth starter in the bullpen.

Andy Benes was the Padres first round pick in 1988 and ended up making the majors just one year later. That year, he would finish fifth in NL Rookie of the Year balloting. He would post a sub 4.00 ERA every full season he was a Padre. Benes would make his lone All-Star appearance for his career in 1993 as a member of the Padres. Benes led the league in hits allowed in 1992.

In the strike shortened year of 1994, Benes would lead the league in losses with 14 and strikeouts with 189.

In Padres hsitory, Benes is fifth in WAR, 10th in ERA, sixth in wins, 10th in WHIP, second in strikeouts and fifth in shutouts.

Like other pitchers on this list, Benes was going into his contract year in 1995 and the Padres were out of contetnion. At the deadline, they sent Benes to the Seattle Mariners for Marc Newfield and Ron Villone. Benes would go on to pitch for the Cardinals twice and the Diamondbacks and retire after the 2000 season.

P-Craig Lefferts

Craig Lefferts was one of those relievers that you can use for multiple innings at any part of the game and he would get the job done. Lefferts would have two tours of duty with the Padres.

The first was after his rookie season of 1983. Lefferts was acquired in a three team deal with the Cubs and Expos. Ironically, Lefferts would get two of the Padres wins in the 1984 NLCS against the Cubs. Lefferts would be traded in the 1987 season to the Giants as a part of the Kevin Mitchell trade. He would come back to the Padres as a free agent after the 1989 season and stay until 1992.

All told, Lefferts is sixth in franchise history in ERA, second in games and seventh in saves. Lefferts would lead the league in games pitched with 83 during the 1986 season.

After Lefferts left, he would pitch three more season with three different teams and retire after the 1994 season.

He is also the last pitcher to hit a walk-off homer.

Next: Bullpen Embed from Getty Images

P- Huston Street

The Padres were looking for a closer in the 2011 off-season and settled on a former All-Star at a discounted rate. The Padres acquired Huston Street in a trade with the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named later.

All Street would do is become an All-Star for two of his three years with the club. Street’s 80 saves are the fifth most in franchise history. He would go 5-6 with a 2.03 ERA during his time as a Padre and struck out 127 batters in 128.2 innings.

Street did such a good job in his first year, the Padres gave him a two year extension that July.

The Padres were going through another part of their rebuild during the 2014 season and placed Huston Street on the trade market. They struck a deal with the Angels in July that year sending Street to Anaheim for four prospects.

Street is signed with the Angels through the upcoming season.

P-Rollie Fingers

Throughout this post, I’ve talked a lot about the Padres trading guys right before they hit free agency. This time, I get to talk about a free agent that the Padres signed as a part of this roster.

When free agency hit, one of the teams who was hit hardest was the Oakland A’s. They just couldn’t keep that championship team together. One of the players who left was All-Star closer Rollie Fingers and his loss was the Padres gain when they signed him before the 1977 season after the commissioner vetoed his sale to the Red Sox by A’s owner Charlie Finley.

In 1977, FIngers would lead the league in games, games finished and saves. He would lead the league in saves again in 1978 and make his lone All-Star appearance as a Padre. His 108 saves are third in franchise history.

Fingers would be sent to the Cardinals in a 10 player trade after the 1980 season. Three days later, the Cardinals would ship Fingers to the Brewers where he would win the AL MVP and finish his career.

P- Rich Gossage

The Padres again dipped into the free agent market for a closer before the 1984 season by signing the Goose. Rich Gossage was the power arm they needed at the end of the game and the move certainly paid off as a part of the Padres pennant winning squad.

Gossage won 10 games, saved 25, finished 51 and made the All-Star team. He also finished fifth in NL MVP voting that year. Gossage would again make the All-Star team in 1985, posting a 1.82 ERA and saving 26 games.

Gossage ranks fourth in Padres history in saves.

After struggling the next two years, the Padres would send Gossage to the Cubs in a trade in February of 1988. Gossage would continue to pitch through age 42 and retire after the 1994 season. He would be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008.

P-Heath Bell

Building a bullpen is one of the hardest parts of building a team. It really fluctuates from year to year unless you have a super elite kind of pitcher. Sometimes you just need to buy low and hope for the best. The Padres did that after the 2006 season when they acquired Heath Bell in a deal from the New York Mets.

Bell would become an elite setup man for the Padres and then became the heir apparent to the closer role after Trevor Hoffman left.

As a closer, Bell would make three straight All-Star teams for the Padres and lead the league in saves with 42 in 2009.

Bell is fourth in Padres history in games, and second in saves and third in games finished. His 81 games in 2007 was the third most ever for an Padre pitcher.

Bell would leave the Padres as a free agent to a big deal with the Marlins after the 2011 season but was never the same pitcher. He wouldn’t appear in a major league game after the 2014 season.

Jul 12, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres former closer Trevor Hoffman throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the 2016 MLB All Star Game at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

P-Trevor Hoffman

Why not finish off the club with one of the greatest closers in MLB history? The Padres acquired Trevor Hoffman in a trade with the Marlins that sent Gary Sheffield to Florida. Hoffman would become the Padres closer in 1994 and wouldn’t look back.

Hoffman would be the first pitcher ever to record 500 and 600 saves in his career.

He would make six All-Star team as a Padre. He led the NL in saves twice. He was top 10 in Cy Young voting four times and runner up twice and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting twice.

Hoffman is the Padres all-time leader in WAR, ERA, WHIP, K/9 ratio, games, games finished, ERA+ and saves. He’s ninth in innings and 10th in wins.

Hoffman would finish out his career as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s back with the Padres as a part of the organization.

So there you have it. The Padres all-time 25 man roster. Who should be there? Who shouldn’t be? Let us know in the comments.