Former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Connor Joe is reportedly close to signing a deal with the San Diego Padres, according to The Athletic’s Dennis Lin.
It would be a homecoming for Joe, who was born in San Diego and played his collegiate career at the University of San Diego before the Pirates drafted him in the first round of the 2014 MLB Draft.
The 32-year-old was a utility player for the Pirates last season. He played 79 games at first base, 44 in right field and six in left. At the plate, he posted .228/.320/.368 slash line with nine home runs and 36 RBIs across 416 plate appearances. He has five defensive runs saved as an outfielder in his career.
Joe’s best season of his career came when he was with the Colorado Rockies in 2021. He launched eight home runs and drove in 35 runs while posting a .285/.379/.469 across 63 games.
The Pirates could have retained Joe for 2025 arbitration, but Pittsburgh opted to non-tender him instead, which sent him to free agency without being exposed to waivers. Having Joe in the mix gives the Padres plenty of options, including having Luis Arráez back in the designated hitter spot.
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