Padres Sign Former Athletics Infielder to Minor League Deal
The San Diego Padres made a transaction that flew under the radar earlier in December — and understandably so. On Dec. 8 — two days after the team traded Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in what was then the biggest move of the offseason — the Padres signed infielder Nate Mondou to a minor league deal, per the team's transaction log on MLB.com.
Mondou, 28, has had just three plate appearances at the Major League level, all coming with the Oakland Athletics in 2022.
Mondou was drafted in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Wake Forest, and worked his way up through the minor leagues.
He reached Double-A during the 2018 season, before playing exclusively in Triple-A during the 2021 and 2022 seasons (besides his brief cup of coffee in the MLB).
In 2023, he was with the Chicago White Sox organization, appearing in two Double-A games and 116 Triple-A games.
In Triple-A last season, Mondou slashed .270/.379/.434 with 13 home runs and 61 runs batted in.
Mondou was signed on a minor league contract, so he'll hope to impress at spring training and potentially earn a spot on the roster at some point next season.
The Padres' 40-man roster currently stands at 32 — although they're reportedly "close" to a deal with Japanese LHP Yuki Matsui.
