Three Surprising Additions to the Padres’ Postseason Roster

Sep 5, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres Joe Musgrove (44) watches game play during the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Augustus Oswald, Site EditorEven though it’s still September, October baseball is upon us! Today marks the start of the most exciting time of year in the baseball calendar: the playoffs. And with that time comes some interesting decisions. Teams have to decide who will and won’t be on their postseason roster by the morning of Game One. The San Diego Padres announced their roster this morning ahead of their series with the Chicago Cubs. There are some interesting surprises on their roster. How could those surprise additions contribute in this series?

Three Surprising Additions to the Padres’ Postseason RosterMiguel Andujar (INF)Despite not seeing a big-league field since mid-July, Andujar has been a great value signing for the Friars. Andujar signed with the Padres on a one-year, $3 million deal ahead of this season. He rewarded them with above-average production, slashing .259/.303/.726 with five home runs. Before landing on the injured list with a fractured wrist, Andujar was heating up. In his final 15 games, he posted a .318/.388/.500 slash line.

Jul 17, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; San Diego Padres designated hitter Miguel Andujar (41) doubles in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn ImagesNotably, Andujar took bench infielder Sung-Mun Song’s place on the roster. It’s not a major surprise. Andujar’s bat is much more potent than Song’s, despite his below-average marks on defense. He’ll likely only be used in pinch-hit and DH opportunities, rather than seeing any time as a starter.

>Still, it’s nice to see a potent bat in the lineup. His return, as well as the return of Gavin Sheets, marks increased depth on the Padres’ bench. Between Andujar, contributorDustin Harris, Austin Hays, Sheets, and speedster Samad Taylor, San Diego has one of the deeper benches of the playoff teams. There’s not an abundance of pedigree in that group, but the ceiling is high for this crop.

Joe Musgrove (RHP)Friday marks two years exactly since Musgrove threw his last big-league pitch. Since then, he has rehabbed his way back despite multiple setbacks. The veteran right-hander was widely believed to anchor the Padres’ rotation this season. Instead, he made one Spring Training start before landing on the 60-day IL. He seemed close to coming off the IL down the stretch run in September, but hit another snag in recovery and was sidelined.

Oct 2, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove (44) leaves the game during the fourth inning of game two in the Wildcard round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs against the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn ImagesIt’s a massive surprise to see Musgrove on the postseason roster. That said, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Musgrove takes the spot that would have likely been occupied by Randy Vásquez. It’s plausible that Vásquez takes that spot back if the Padres advance to the National League Division Series. Regardless, Musgrove will probably not pitch in Game one. It’s a must-win game for San Diego, with very little leash. He seems more likely to pitch in bulk relief for Game Two if the Friars win the first contest tonight.

Ethan Salas (C)In spite of his youth, Salas managed to squeak his way onto the postseason roster. That gives the Padres plenty of flexibility behind the dish. Between Luis Campusano, Freddy Fermin and Salas, San Diego has a solid crop of backstops to turn to. Campusano is easily the most offensively capable, but Salas has heated up lately. Fermin will likely only see time to prioritize defense.

>If you had told me in August that Salas would be on the postseason roster, I wouldn’t have believed you. But Salas has swung his way into the playoffs. In his last 15 contests, Salas has posted a .286/.306/.514 slash line. He’s been even better in his last seven games, batting .389/.421/.389. His slugging percentage certainly took a hit, but his contact hitting has gone up. Salas has been the direct reason why the Padres have won certain games.

Sep 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas (8) gestures after hitting an RBI single during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn ImagesStill, he’s only 20 years old. He’s got plenty of time to develop into something more, and the onus shouldn’t be on his shoulders. However, if he can bring some thump at the bottom of the lineup, it’ll be that much tougher for Chicago’s pitching staff to navigate. Salas could truly be an X-factor for San Diego in however long their postseason run is.

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>Main Photo Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images

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