RANDY V\u00c1SQUEZ<\/p>\n
Position(s): Right-handed pitcher
\nBats \/ Throws: Right \/ Right
\n2026 opening day age: 27
\nHeight \/ Weight: 6-foot \/ 165 pounds
\nHow acquired: Via trade with the New York Yankees in December 2023
\nContract status: Will not be arbitration-eligible until 2028 and will not be a free agent until 2031.
\nfWAR in 2025: 0.8
\nKey 2025 stats: 6-7, 3.84 ERA, 0 saves, 0 holds, 78 strikeouts, 52 walks, 1.32 WHIP, .247 opponent average, 133 \u2154 innings (28 games, 26 starts)<\/p>\n
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STAT TO NOTE<\/p>\n
.764 \u2014 V\u00e1squez\u2019s OPS against left-handed hitters in 2025, well below what he posted in his first year in the Padres\u2019 rotation (.961). He was better with the changeup against them in 2025 as he lowered lefties\u2019 average against that pitch from .360 to .300 and in turn V\u00e1squez\u2019s four-seamer dropped from .435 against lefties in 2024 to .246 last year. The end result was a 3.84 ERA that was more than a run better than it was in 2024 (4.87).<\/p>\n
TRENDING<\/p>\n
Up \u2014 One of the pieces received in the Juan Soto trade, V\u00e1squez made 20 starts in his first year in San Diego as an up-and-down arm who filled in at different points for the injured Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove. A year later, V\u00e1squez made the opening day rotation and made 22 starts without interruption until a series of trades gave the Padres new arms to try in the rotation. Before one last blow up on Aug. 2 (4 IP, 5 ER), V\u00e1squez had a 3.65 ERA despite a 52-to-48 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 103 \u2154 innings as he lived up to the \u201ctraffic cop\u201d nicknamed bestowed upon him in spring training. V\u00e1squez was optioned out after that Aug. 2 start as the team got a look LHPs JP Sears and Nestor Cortes. V\u00e1squez made one Triple-A start before returning to pitch in bulk relief at Dodger Stadium and then went back to the minors for another start and a long paternity leave break. Then V\u00e1squez returned for good on Sept. 6, throwing six quality innings at Coors Field, the start of three quality starts in four trips to the mound (2.53 ERA, 18 strikeouts, 3 walks). V\u00e1squez made his last appearance of the regular season out of the bullpen, his likeliest role after earning a spot on the NL Wild Card Series roster. V\u00e1squez, however, was not used in Chicago.<\/p>\n
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2026 OUTLOOK<\/p>\n
V\u00e1squez\u2019s improvement against left-handed hitters (see stat to note) went a long ways toward getting a longer run in the rotation in 2025. He still ranked in the bottom 2% in strikeout rate (13.7%), but the strikeout-to-walk ratio spiked over his final four starts. A continuation of that trend would further solidify V\u00e1squez\u2019s spot in a rotation that needs him to take a step forward to offset losing Dylan Cease to free agency and Darvish to elbow surgery.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Randy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SUT-L-padres-0912-028_78e070.jpg\")
Randy Vasquez #98 of the San Diego Padres reacts after striking out Jordan Beck #27 of the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at Petco Park on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)
\nROSTER RANKINGS<\/p>\n
14. RHP Randy Vasquez
\n15. OF Gavin Sheets
\n16. LHP JP Sears
\n17. RHP Yu Darvish
\n18. RHP Bradgley Rodriguez
\n19. RHP David Morgan
\n20. C Freddy Fermin
\n21. LHP Wandy Peralta
\n22. C Luis Campusano
\n23. LHP Yuki Matsui
\n24. INF Sung-Mun Song
\n25. RHP Matt Waldron
\n26. OF Bryce Johnson
\n27. RHP Ron Marinaccio
\n28. RHP Bryan Hoeing
\n29. LHP Kyle Hart
\n30. RHP Jhony Brito
\n31. INF Will Wagner
\n32. OF Tirso Ornelas
\n33. RHP Garrett Hawkins
\n34. RHP Miguel Mendez
\n35. RHP Daison Acosta
\n36. RHP Ty Adcock
\n37. RHP Alek Jacob
\n38. INF Mason McCoy<\/p>\n
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