The San Diego Padres just grabbed some infield depth, signing former Twins prospect José Miranda to a minor league deal. He’ll get a shot at big league spring training. It’s a low-risk move, targeting a hitter who once looked like a future staple in Minnesota before injuries and inconsistency got in the way.
Padres Take a Low-Risk Chance on José Miranda
The deal is minor league, but the spring invite shows San Diego wants a real look at Miranda in their infield mix. With the Padres juggling Manny Machado’s workload and always eyeing their infield depth, this move fits a front office chasing affordable upside.
Miranda, repped by the Boras Corporation and turning 28 in June, lands at a crossroads. He’s not really a “prospect” anymore, but he’s still young enough to bounce back if he can find his 2022 form.
From Breakout Rookie to Question Mark
Miranda broke in with the Twins in 2022 and looked like he belonged. That year, he hit 15 home runs and posted a .268/.325/.426 line—good for a 116 wRC+.
He profiled as a modern contact-first corner infielder: decent bat-to-ball skills, some pop, but not many walks. He didn’t blow anyone away, but he kept finding barrels and seemed like someone who might grow into more power with time.
Injuries and Inconsistency Derail a Promising Bat
2023 changed everything. Miranda’s season went sideways with a shoulder issue that needed surgery. He played just 40 games and struggled badly at the plate.
For a guy whose value is tied to his bat, losing both health and timing in one year was brutal. In 2024, he bounced back a bit with a .284/.322/.441 line and a 114 wRC+. The power still wasn’t quite there, and scouts started to wonder if the shoulder had taken something off his swing.
Triple-A Struggles and a Roster Squeeze
2025 brought bigger problems. Miranda’s numbers tanked, and he spent the year stuck in Triple-A. The Twins, loaded with young position players, decided to move on.
They outrighted him off the 40-man roster in November. With no minor league options left, he hit free agency. Any team adding him to the big league roster has to keep him there or risk losing him on waivers.
Defensive Limitations Shape Miranda’s Future Role
Miranda’s defense has always been a question. He’s played third and first, but neither spot has really suited him.
Defensive metrics keep grading him below average, and scouts point to limited range and athleticism. That means he’ll need to hit—really hit—or settle into a bat-first bench role.
How Miranda Fits the Padres’ Infield Picture
From San Diego’s angle, this is the kind of move that makes sense every offseason. The deal’s cheap, but if Miranda finds his old swing, there’s upside. The Padres want infield depth, especially as Machado ages and probably spends more time at DH.
Miranda’s a lottery ticket, honestly. He could end up as:
If he looks good in Peoria and grabs an Opening Day spot, the Padres suddenly have more options.
Club Control Adds Upside for San Diego
Miranda doesn’t have much big league service time, so San Diego could keep him for up to four years if things go well. That’s a big deal for a team always looking to balance the books with cost-controlled bats.
No one’s saying Miranda is a lock for more than depth, but there’s something intriguing here—a right-handed hitter, still young, who’s proven he can be league average or better when healthy. Now he’s in a new spot, fighting to keep his career alive. Who knows?
Spring Training Will Tell the Story
Miranda’s future? We’ll get some answers in the spring. If his bat looks more like it did in 2022–24 than what we saw in 2025, he’s suddenly right in the Padres’ infield mix.
If he keeps struggling, San Diego can just move on without much fuss.
Right now, the Padres are taking a shot—doing what smart teams do. They’re buying low on a guy who once seemed like a real building block in Minnesota, hoping maybe a new place, better health, and a fresh shot can bring out that old José Miranda again.
Here is the source article for this story: Padres To Sign José Miranda To Minor League Deal
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