By @VisualTejeda – FriarPulse

Published November 18, 2025 — 3:18 PM (PST) — Carlsbad, California

The Padres made two important roster decisions Tuesday afternoon, selecting the contracts of right-handers Garrett Hawkins and Miguel Mendez to the Major League roster. The move brings San Diego’s 40-man total to 36 players, leaving four open spots as the club continues preparing for the Rule 5 Draft and the heart of the offseason.

Why These Two Arms?

The selections of Hawkins and Mendez reflect two different but complementary evaluations from the Padres’ player development and scouting staffs.

Garrett Hawkins posted one of the more quietly consistent seasons in the upper minors, showcasing command gains, better pitch efficiency, and an improved fastball/slider pairing. His ability to handle multi-inning outings made him a clear candidate for protection, especially given the organization’s thinning rotation depth.

Miguel Mendez, on the other hand, fits the modern power-reliever profile. His fastball regularly reaches the high 90s, and he pairs it with a sharp, late-biting slider. The Padres have seen enough progress in his strike-throwing to believe he could contribute at the Major League level in 2026—and they weren’t willing to risk losing him in the Rule 5 Draft.

Why Now?

Rule 5 protection deadlines often force teams to reveal what they value most internally, and today’s moves tell us the Padres are prioritizing:

• Relief depth and controllable bullpen arms
• Pitchers who can provide innings immediately
• Power stuff that other teams would likely target

With so much turnover expected in the rotation after Dylan Cease and Michael King declined their qualifying offers earlier in the day, the Padres’ pitching depth has become a central storyline of the offseason.

The Victor Peña Question

Social media reaction was fast and blunt: “No Peña?”

Victor Peña remains unprotected for now, but the Padres still have four open roster spots. The omission doesn’t necessarily mean he’s out of the team’s long-term plans—it may simply indicate the front office believes he’s at lower immediate risk of being selected than Hawkins or Mendez.

Still, the decision will be monitored closely as the Rule 5 Draft approaches.

What Comes Next?

San Diego has only 36 players on the 40-man roster, a luxury for a team facing major pitching turnover. Expect more movement soon, including:

• Additional Rule 5 protections
• Potential waiver claims or depth signings
• Trade activity as Winter Meetings approach

With the rotation undergoing a full recalibration and several bullpen roles still open, the Padres’ offseason blueprint is just beginning to take shape. Protecting Hawkins and Mendez is the first step in what is expected to be a busy stretch for A.J. Preller and the front office.