SAN DIEGO -- Former Rockies starter and All-Star Germán Márquez will reportedly sign a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, pending a physical, according to ESPN's Alden González. One of three acquisitions by GM A.J. Preller in a 24-hour span, Márquez will be in the mix for the Friars' last starting rotation job.
The 30-year old right-hander has been more than just a serviceable starter in his 10-year Major League career, at one point serving as Colorado's ace, primarily pitching at what is pitcher's purgatory Coors Field. His best season arguably came in 2018 when he tossed to the tune of a 3.77 ERA with 230 strikeouts, a 14-11 record, and a 1.20 WHIP.
Not to mention he was also described as a "Padre killer", due to his impressive starts against them that stem all the way back to 2017. In his career, the veteran owns a 11-5 record with 119 strikeouts in 112.2 innings versus San Diego.
The 2025 season, however, was not at all kind to Márquez. He suffered career worsts in nearly every pitching stat and metric for his career. He pitched to a 3-16 record with a 6.70 ERA and 23 home runs allowed. Now, he looks for a fresh start at one of the friendliest pitching confines in the sport. Perhaps working alongside 'Pitching Doctor' Ruben Niebla helps him regain his former self.
After adding Southern California native Griffin Canning on a team-friendly one-year deal on Saturday as well, the Padres are stacking up on a rotation that had relatively thin depth before the sudden acquisitions of both men. Canning won't factor much into the rotation battle, due to rehabbing a ruptured left torn achilles which he suffered last June. The Padres don't expect him to be ready to go until sometime in early to mid-May.
Márquez joins a plethora of arms such as lefties Marco Gonzales and JP Sears, and righties Triston McKenzie and knuckleballer Matt Waldron as candidates to crack the Opening Day roster.