Less than a week after opting for free agency following a DFA, right-handed pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. is returning to the San Diego Padres. According to the team’s transaction log on MLB.com, Edwards and the Padres have agreed to a new minor league contract. The Padres had initially designated Edwards for assignment on August 12, and he chose free agency three days later after clearing waivers.
This marks the second time this summer that Edwards has signed a minor league deal with San Diego, making it his third stint with the organization. The 32-year-old made just one appearance with the Padres during his previous time with the team, failing to record an out while allowing three baserunners. Fortunately, teammate Yuki Matsui bailed him out by escaping the bases-loaded jam.
Despite his brief and challenging big league outing, Edwards has shown promise in Triple-A this season. He has posted a 3.30 ERA while pitching for the Triple-A affiliates of both the Padres and Cubs. Although his strikeout rate is an average 22.2%, he has struggled with control, issuing walks at a high 14.3% rate over 46 1/3 innings.
From 2022 to 2023, Edwards was a regular fixture in the Washington Nationals’ bullpen, where he logged 93 2/3 innings and posted a 3.07 ERA, though his strikeout and walk rates were less than ideal (20% and 10.6%, respectively). His 2023 season was cut short by a stress fracture in his shoulder. Over his 10-year MLB career, Edwards has pitched 280 innings for the Cubs, Nationals, Padres, Blue Jays, Mariners, and Braves, compiling a career ERA of 3.54, along with notable strikeout and walk rates of 28.1% and 12.7%.
With the Padres recently bolstering their bullpen by acquiring Tanner Scott, Jason Adam, and Bryan Hoeing, Edwards faces an uphill battle to secure a spot in San Diego’s already deep and talented relief corps. However, during his previous stint with the club, he worked out of the Triple-A rotation. If injuries arise later in the season, Edwards could be called upon for spot starts or long relief, especially with rosters expanding to 28 players in September.
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