One of the Padres' most glaring roster holes this season has come from behind the dish. They've addressed it in a two-for-one swap with the Royals in a move that sends catcher Freddy Fermin to San Diego and right-handers Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek back to Kansas City.
The San Diego Padres are acquiring catcher Freddy Fermin from the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Ryan Bergert, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2025
Fermin is hitting .255 this season with a .648 OPS and three home runs. Per Baseball Savant, the backstop ranks in the 90th percentile in Pop Time and places in above average league metrics in Blocks Above Avg and Framing. The 30 year-old has studied behind future Hall of Fame catcher Salvador Perez in K.C. and will certainly serve as an upgrade on both sides of the diamond for the Friars. He's also under club control through 2029.
San Diego has received the worst production at the position between the tandem of Elias Díaz and Martin Maldonado, who cumulatively have produced a -0.7 WAR this season. It'll be interesting to see which veteran backstop San Diego chooses to keep as a backup to Fermin if they decide to carry just two catchers on the roster.
On the flip side, The Royals acquire controllable pieces in Bergert and Kolek, who both gave the Padres serviceable starts throughout the year's first 109 games. Bergert who is a rookie, made his final start for San Diego on Tuesday, pitching four innings of one run baseball against the New York Mets. Kolek spent parts of last season in the Friars' bullpen and was stretched out as a starter this season. He pitched to a 4-5 record with a 4.18 ERA and 56 strikeouts.