Former Padres Utility Man Re-Signs With Friars on Minor League Deal
Something missed on Thursday before the calendar turned to September was a reunion signing for the San Diego Padres. According to the transactions log on MLB.com and later reported on by the San Diego Union-Tribune, the Padres signed utility man Jurickson Profar to a minor league deal on August 31st.
Profar declined his player option after last season and eventually signed with the Rockies for $7.75 million, slightly more than what he would have made with the Friars this season.
The infielder turned outfielder was with San Diego from 2020 to 2022, turning into an everyday left fielder through a couple of postseason runs. In his three seasons with the club, he hit .244 with 26 home runs and 116 runs batted in.
“It’s nice to have him back,” Padres manager Bob Melvin told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Gives us some added depth. … He was a guy that was a favorite here in the clubhouse and played a lot for us last year. Basically led off the entire season. I think things didn’t go how he would have liked this year, but (he is) a guy that our guys love and was very well-embraced in this clubhouse.”
A client of super agent Scott Boras, Profar revealed back in April that he never wanted to leave San Diego. He returns and is technically postseason eligible, if the Padres can pull off a miracle in September.
