By @VisualTejeda – FriarPulse

Published December 16, 2025 — Carlsbad, California

The Padres kept working the transaction wire in December, adding three right-handed pitchers on minor league deals while losing two players in the Rule 5 Draft’s AAA phase.

No headlines. No hype. Just roster math.

Padres Add: Evan Fitterer – RHP

Evan Fitterer is a 25-year-old right-hander who spent the last several seasons in the Marlins system. He’s mostly been developed as a starter, but he fits the profile of a swing arm who can start, relieve, and cover innings depending on organizational need.

• Position: Right-handed pitcher
• Role: Swingman / upper-minors depth
• Fit: Rotation insurance or bullpen innings in Triple-A

For the Padres, this is a low-risk depth move — the type of arm that can quietly become useful when injuries hit or the big-league staff needs a fresh body.

Padres Add: Nathaniel Jacinto – RHP

Nathaniel Jacinto joins the organization as another depth arm intended to support the lower and middle levels of the system.

• Position: Right-handed pitcher
• Role: Organizational / developmental depth

These are the pitchers who help keep affiliates stable through the grind of a long season — absorbing innings and allowing higher-priority arms to be managed more carefully.

Padres Add: Albieris Polanco – RHP

Albieris Polanco is a low-risk addition with a more developmental profile, likely viewed as flexible inventory for the lower minors.

• Position: Right-handed pitcher
• Role: Low-minors depth (bullpen or starter)

Polanco gives the organization flexibility — the kind teams rely on when injuries, promotions, and workload limits start to stack up.

Padres Lose: Eiker Huizi – RHP (Rule 5, AAA Phase)

The Washington Nationals selected right-hander Eiker Huizi in the Rule 5 Draft’s AAA phase, purchasing his contract and removing him from the Padres system.

This selection does not require an MLB roster spot, so it’s best viewed as a depth grab by Washington rather than a major loss for San Diego.

Padres Lose: Devin Ortiz – 3B (Rule 5, AAA Phase)

The Chicago Cubs selected corner infielder Devin Ortiz in the same AAA phase of the Rule 5 Draft.

Ortiz was a depth piece who went unprotected, signaling the Padres were comfortable risking the loss in exchange for roster flexibility elsewhere.

FriarPulse Take

These moves won’t change the big-league outlook by themselves, but they reveal the approach.

The Padres are churning the bottom of the roster to build cheap, flexible pitching depth, while accepting that fringe depth pieces may be lost in the Rule 5 process.

It’s not flashy — but it’s how organizations stay ready when the season gets messy.