REPORT: San Diego Padres Sign Former A’s Pitcher in Blockbuster MLB Record Deal
The San Diego Padres have signed former Athletics reliever to league contract that includes an invitation to spring training, per Robert Murray.
Wendelken, a 31-year-old right-hander, began his MLB career with the A’s in 2016 and had a standout period from 2018-2020. During that stretch, he appeared in 61 games, pitching 74 1/3 innings with a 2.30 ERA (3.03 FIP), a 0.955 WHIP, a 9.6 K/9 rate, and a 3.0 BB/9 rate. He was a reliable bullpen arm for Oakland during those years.
However, his performance dipped in 2021 when he posted a 4.32 ERA in 25 innings. He was designated for assignment in August to make room for A.J. Puk and was subsequently claimed off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Wendelken finished the 2021 season with a 4.34 ERA for Arizona but showed improvement in his WHIP, lowering it to 1.29 from 1.68 with Oakland.
Wendelken stayed with the Diamondbacks in 2022, recording a 5.28 ERA over 29 innings with a 1.34 WHIP. He was designated for assignment midseason, outrighted to Triple-A Reno, and elected free agency that winter. He then signed with the Yokohama BayStars in Japan, where he excelled, finishing the 2023 season with a 1.67 ERA over 86 innings. In the Japan Series, he delivered in high-pressure situations, pitching 3 2/3 scoreless postseason innings while allowing just one hit, one walk, and striking out two.
As Wendelken joins the Padres, he adds depth to a bullpen that posted a 3.78 ERA in 2024, ranking 11th in MLB, with an even better 3.60 FIP, good for third overall. While Wendelken isn’t currently on the 40-man roster, he brings MLB experience with 159 2/3 career innings and a 105 ERA+, slightly above league average. His recent MLB seasons (2021-2022) were less effective, with ERA+ ratings of 98 and 77, respectively.
Wendelken’s role in San Diego will likely hinge on injuries or underperformance within the bullpen. If the Padres can optimize his pitch mix, he could contribute to their big-league roster in 2025.