Just days after electing free agency following a DFA, right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. has rejoined the Padres on a minor league deal, as noted in the team’s transaction log. Edwards was initially designated for assignment by San Diego on August 12 and chose free agency three days later after clearing waivers.
This marks Edwards’ second minor league deal with the Padres this summer and his third stint with the organization overall. The 32-year-old had a brief and rough appearance in the big leagues with San Diego earlier this season, allowing three baserunners without recording an out. Fortunately, his teammate Yuki Matsui bailed him out, preserving the situation by stranding the bases loaded.
Despite that rocky outing, Edwards has posted solid results at Triple-A this year, pitching to a 3.30 ERA across stints with the Triple-A affiliates of both the Padres and Cubs. While his strikeout rate sits at an average 22.2%, control remains a concern, as evidenced by his high 14.3% walk rate over 46 1/3 innings.
From 2022 to 2023, Edwards was a key part of the Nationals’ bullpen, logging 93 2/3 innings with a 3.07 ERA despite inconsistent strikeout (20%) and walk (10.6%) rates. His 2023 campaign was cut short due to a stress fracture in his shoulder. Over his 10-year MLB career, Edwards has made stops with the Cubs, Nationals, Padres, Blue Jays, Mariners, and Braves, accumulating 280 innings with a 3.54 ERA and notable strikeout (28.1%) and walk (12.7%) rates.
With the Padres recently bolstering their already formidable bullpen by adding Tanner Scott, Jason Adam, and Bryan Hoeing at the trade deadline, Edwards faces an uphill battle to secure a spot. However, during his previous stint with the club, he was used as a starter at Triple-A. If injuries arise late in the season, Edwards could provide spot starts or long relief, particularly when rosters expand to 28 players in September.
