RANDY VÁSQUEZ

• Position(s): Right-handed pitcher
• Bats / Throws: Right / Right
• 2025 opening day age: 28
• Height / Weight: 6-foot / 165 pounds
• How acquired: Via trade with the New York Yankees in December 2023
• Contract status: Earned $745,800 in 2024; will not be arbitration-eligible until 2028.
• fWAR in 2024: 0.8
• Key 2024 stats: 4-7, 4.87 ERA, 62 strikeouts, 29 walks, 1.51 WHIP, .304 opponent average, 98 innings (20 starts)

 

STAT TO NOTE

• .961 — Vásquez’s opponent OPS against left-handed hitters in 2024, well above his splits against righties (.725). Vásquez allowed lefties to pen a .365/.421/.539 batting line his first year in San Diego, significantly up from that line as a rookie the previous year with the Yankees (.206/.304/.427). The problem? Opponents hit .326 off his fastball last year, up from .227 as a rookie, and .365 off his off-speed offerings, up from .100 in 2023.

 

TRENDING

• Idle — In a perfect world, the Padres keep Juan Soto for a third shot at a World Series. But the team’s finances dictated a trade of their most valuable pending free agent heading into the 2024 season and the return addressed a number of holes on the roster, from an immediate starting pitcher (Michael King) to a backup catcher (Kyle Higashioka) to depth rotation options (Vásquez, Jhony Brito and Drew Thorpe). Thorpe was ultimately flipped to the White Sox in the Dylan Cease trade and Brito pitched in relief after losing a rotation competition in spring training to Matt Waldron. Vásquez, on the other hand, split his time in the majors and Triple-A El Paso, where he made 10 starts (8.21 ERA) that simply served as his opportunity to stay ready for use in the majors. And Vásquez was needed quite a bit as Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish both missed ample time to various injuries and a personal matter (Darvish). Vásquez made two starts in the majors in April (7 ⅔ IP, 5 ER), three in May (14 IP, 9 ER) and then 12 in a row from June through Aug. 8 (4.20 ERA). The overall collection included six quality starts despite his ineffectiveness against left-handed hitters (see stat to note).

 

2025 OUTLOOK

• Barring significant additions to the roster, Vásquez should compete for a spot in the opening day rotation against the likes of Matt Waldron and Jhony Brito. How much time Vásquez spends in the majors will depend on solving his issues against left-handed hitters.

 

 

 

 

Roster rankings

• 19. RHP Bryan Hoeing
• 20. LHP Yuki Matsui
• 21. RHP Sean Reynolds
• 22. C Luis Campusano
• 23. RHP Alek Jacob
• 24. OF Tirso Ornelas
• 25. RHP Ryan Bergert
• 26. RHP Henry Baez
• 27. LHP Omar Cruz
• 28. OF Brandon Lockridge
• 29. LHP Tom Cosgrove
• 30. RHP Stephen Kolek
• 31. RHP Juan Nuñez
• 32. C Brett Sullivan
• 33. UT Tyler Wade
• 34. LHP Wandy Peralta