ESPN Report: San Diego Padres Faced Another Major Setbacks After Another Top Experienced Fans Favorite Superstar

Veteran right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. has chosen free agency after rejecting an outright assignment from the San Diego Padres following his recent designation for assignment (DFA), according to MiLB.com’s transaction log. Edwards, who will turn 33 next month, is now free to sign with any team.

Earlier this summer, Edwards returned to the Padres on a minor league contract, marking his second stint with the team. However, his time on the mound for San Diego was brief, as he made just one appearance in which he allowed all three batters he faced to reach base (two walks, one hit). He was subsequently pulled from the game, but his teammate Yuki Matsui managed to escape the bases-loaded situation without further damage.

Although Edwards struggled in his lone MLB outing this season, he has performed reasonably well in Triple-A. Splitting his time between the top affiliates of the Cubs and Padres, Edwards posted a 3.30 ERA with a 22.2% strikeout rate, though his 14.3% walk rate remains a concern. He has been used both as a reliever and more recently as a starter in Triple-A, demonstrating his ability to pitch multiple innings.

Before this season, Edwards spent the 2022-23 seasons with the Washington Nationals, where he was a reliable arm out of the bullpen under manager Davey Martinez. During that time, he recorded a 3.07 ERA over 93 2/3 innings, despite less-than-ideal peripheral stats (20% strikeout rate, 10.6% walk rate). His 2023 campaign was cut short due to a stress fracture in his right shoulder, which led to him signing a minor league deal with the Cubs in the offseason. After not being promoted to the big league roster by June, Edwards opted out of his contract and later signed with the Padres.

Edwards, once a top prospect in the Rangers’ system who was traded to the Cubs as part of the deal for Matt Garza, has now pitched in parts of 10 MLB seasons. Over 280 innings with six different teams, primarily the Cubs and Nationals, he has compiled a 3.54 ERA, a strong 28.1% strikeout rate, and a high 12.7% walk rate.