With only a few roster spots in limbo, the Padres will have to make some very difficult decisions come the end of spring training, with the biggest one being who will occupy the final bench spot.
There are a few names that come to mind when looking at options, and they are Ty France and Bryce Johnson. Both have incredibly different skillsets and can make positive impacts on San Diego, but it will come down to what the team prioritizes in their players.
Ty France and Bryce Johnson are making the Padres' last roster call feel uncomfortably real
Let's start with Johnson, who only saw 84 at-bats off the bench in 2025. A versatile player, Johnson batted .342 with an .817 OPS in the minimal time he saw, but he provides more than just a solid bat, as he ranks in the top 20% in sprint speed, averaging 28.5 feet per second. A contact hitter, Johnson does not prioritize power and makes a ton of contact on pitches in the zone. His defense, on the other hand, sits in the middle of the pack.
Ty France, who was signed to a minor league contract after spending 2025 with the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays, has a different approach. He provides exceptional defense and a lower strikeout rate. However, he doesn't present speed on the basepaths, and doesn't have a ton of slug in the bat.
The Padres already have elite infield defense with Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, but it wouldn't hurt to add a defensive replacement to the infield.
But at the same time, the team could really benefit from outfield depth behind Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, and Ramón Laureano.
There will be some interesting decisions being made at training camp in the next few weeks, and we have full trust in the front office to make the right decision. In terms of depth, you can't really go wrong here.