Padres Sign Outfielder Oscar González to Minor League Deal

The San Diego Padres have signed outfielder Oscar González to a minor league contract, as noted on his transactions tracker atMLB.com.González, 27, has been assigned to Triple-A El Paso, with an expected invitation to major league spring training.

Early Career and Breakout with Guardians
González made his major league debut with the Cleveland Guardians in 2022, showcasing promising potential by hitting 11 home runs in 91 games. He posted a .296/.327/.461 batting line, translating to a 123 wRC+ despite a low 3.9% walk rate. His strikeout rate was a manageable 19.6%. González quickly became a fan favorite, known for his unique choice of the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song as his walk-up music and hitting a memorable walk-off home run in the Wild Card round against the Rays.

Struggles in 2023
However, González's performance declined in 2023. His strikeout rate increased to 25.6% while his walk rate dropped to 2.8%. With just two home runs in 54 games, his offensive output fell to a .214/.239/.312 slash line and a wRC+ of 48. Given his defensive limitations, these offensive struggles significantly impacted his value to the team.

]Transition and Recent Performance
​Following the 2023 season, the Guardians placed González on waivers, leading to a brief stint with the New York Yankees, who later passed him through waivers before the 2024 campaign. In Triple-A, González managed to have a decent season despite injury interruptions. Over 78 games, he hit eight home runs with a .294/.333/.469 batting line and a 106 wRC+ for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.