Padres option Luis Campusano – MLB transfer rumors

The Padres have made some changes before today's game against the Mariners. San Diego in particular has changed the catcher Luis Campusano to Triple-A El Paso. The Friars also placed Martin Perez on the paternity list when recalling the outfielder Brandon Lockridge and left-handed relief thrower Tom Cosgrove.

It is the first optional assignment for Campusano in two years. He played briefly in the minors to rehab injuries, but has not been demoted since 2022. Last season, Campusano looked like he would break through as San Diego's answer behind the plate. Although a thumb injury cost him most of the year, he averaged .319/.356/.491 in 49 games. The Friars released him without any concerns Gary Sanchez on foot and turn to Campusano as a starter for the season opening.

The 25-year-old has appeared in a career-high 91 games. He has failed to produce anything on either side of the ball, leading both FanGraphs and Baseball Reference to rate his play as just below replacement level. Campusano has posted a .227/.281/.361 batting line in 299 at-bats. While that would be tolerable if he played well behind the plate, his defensive marks have been very poor.

Campusano has pitched 670 2/3 innings behind the plate. He is 15 runs below average in Defensive Runs Saved, the worst mark among catchers. Statcast has given him a poor grade for each of his pitch framing, blocks and throws. Campusano is tied for the fifth most passed balls with six and has thrown 36 wild pitches behind the plate.

Only Shea Langeliers, Will Smith And Logan O’Hoppe were behind the plate for more wild pitches – and they all pitched over 900 innings. That's not entirely Campusano's fault, of course, but it doesn't reflect well on his job of blocking pitches in the dirt. Campusano also stopped just eight of 49 attempted base stealers, a rate of 16.3%, about five points below the league average.

These difficulties have of course created playing time for the substitute catcher Kyle Higashioka. Acquired by the Yankees as the fifth piece in the Juan Soto Blockbuster, Higashioka had the best season of his career. The veteran hit 16 home runs in just 228 at-bats. Despite a .225 average and a dismal .269 on-base mark, his power made him a productive hitter. Higashioka has a league-average catch-stealing rate, although he also had a rough time as a receiver. He's tied for the MLB all-time leader with nine passed balls in just 575 2/3 innings.

San Diego had played with a Campusano-Higashioka duo for most of the season. They added the 2023 All-Star MVP Elias Diaz late last month after being released by the Rockies. Díaz will back up Higashioka for now. This appears to be captain Mike Shildt's preferred duo as the Friars try to secure a wild card spot.

Higashioka and Díaz are both soon to be free agents. Besides Campusano, the only other catcher on the 40-man roster is Brett Sullivanwho is considered a substitute player. While the Friars are certainly hoping for a top talent Ethan Salas To finally win the position, they cannot count on the 18-year-old for at least a few seasons, suggesting that Campusano will compete for the job next year with an external recruit – possibly a re-signed Higashioka or Díaz.

The timing of the demotion offers the Padres some flexibility in this regard – probably not coincidentally. Campusano has a minor league option remaining. A player uses an option year when he spends 20 days on an optional assignment during a season. Rehab stints do not count toward that time. There are 19 days left in the regular season, so Campusano has an option remaining through 2025. That means the Padres could keep him in El Paso for another year without putting him on the waivers list.

Campusano is on track to reach arbitration for the first time in his career. He began the season with one year and 144 days of service. He will complete a full year of service this season despite being demoted. Evan Drellich of The Athletic reported in 2022 that players who are optioned more than three days after Labor Day will continue to receive service time during that time. That gives Campusano an easy opportunity to qualify for early arbitration as a Super Two player, though his salary will be modest enough that he shouldn't be in danger of going unsigned. He is controllable for another four seasons after this season.

Lockridge gets his first chance in the Major League. San Diego added him to the 40-man roster in early September, but kept him in El Paso at his request. He was signed by the Yankees at the deadline in Enyel De Los Santos Lockridge has a batting average of .306/.410/.397 in 402 plate appearances at the highest minor league level. The speedster has stolen 46 bases and has been thrown out just six times. He will likely be used as a pinch-runner and defensive specialist in his first MLB appearance.