SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have signed infielder Ha-Seong Kim to a four-year contract with a mutual option for the 2025 season, Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller announced today. To make room for Kim on the 40-man roster, the Padres designated Greg Allen for assignment.

In 138 games with the Kiwoom Heroes of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) last season, Kim batted .306 (163-for-533) with a career-high 30 HR, .397 OBP, .921 OPS, 24 doubles, 109 RBI, 23 stolen bases, 111 runs scored and 75 walks to just 68 strikeouts. Among all KBO players, the 25-year-old ranked 3rd in runs scored, 5th in stolen bases, 6th in walks, 8th in total bases (279), 9th in RBI, 10th in HR, 11th in hits and OPS, 12th in AVG and 13th in SLG (.523). Kim also led his club in HR, RBI and runs. …

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have acquired right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish, catcher Victor Caratini and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for right-hander Zach Davies, infielders Reginald Preciado and Yeison Santana, and outfielders Owen Caissie and Ismael Mena, Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller announced today.

Darvish, 34, made 12 starts for the Cubs in 2020, going 8–3 with a 2.01 ERA (17 ER, 76.0 IP), 93 strikeouts against 14 walks, and just five home runs allowed. The veteran starter finished behind Trevor Bauer for second place in the National League Cy Young race, marking the third time in his career in which he’s received votes for the accolade (also finished in second place in 2013 and ninth in 2012). Among NL pitchers this past season, the 6-foot-5, 216-pound right-hander ranked first in wins, second in ERA and strikeouts per walk ratio (6.64), third in innings pitched, tied for fourth in strikeouts, and fourth in WHIP (0.96). Darvish earned his first-career Pitcher of the Month award for his July-August performance, posting a 6–1 record with 52 strikeouts and a 1.47 ERA (7 ER, 43.0 IP) across seven starts. On July 25 vs. …

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have acquired left-handed pitcher Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-handers Luis Patiño and Cole Wilcox and catchers Francisco Mejía and Blake Hunt, Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller announced today.

Snell, the 2018 American League Cy Young Award winner, went 4–2 with a 3.24 ERA (18 ER, 50.0 IP) and 63 strikeouts to just 18 walks over 11 regular season starts for the Rays in 2020. He allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 of those 11 starts and surrendered just 42 hits with a .228/.297/.429 opponents slash line. Among all left-handed starters in MLB (min. 50.0 IP), the 28-year-old ranked 1st in strikeout percentage (31.0) and SO/9.0 IP (11.30), 5th in strikeouts, 6th in ERA and opponents AVG, and 7th in WHIP (1.20) and SO/BB ratio (3.50). Opponents hit .033 (1-for-30) with 17 SO in at-bats ending with his slider, and his combined .088 opponents AVG (6-for-68) in at-bats ending with breaking balls was 3rd-best in the majors (min. 50 AB). Snell went 2–2 with a 3.03 ERA (10 ER, 29.2 IP) in six postseason starts, and while facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, he became the third left-handed pitcher to record nine or more strikeouts twice in a single Fall Classic, joining Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers (three times in 1965) and Hal Newhouser of the Detroit Tigers (twice in 1945). …

Part 3 in the 4 part series of the best photos from the 2020 season.

Part two of the Best Photos of 2020 series.

SAN DIEGO — As announced by the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball today, Peter Seidler has been formally approved by Major League team owners as control person of the San Diego Padres. Seidler will be accountable to Major League Baseball for the operation of the Club and its compliance with the rules of Baseball. Additionally, the Padres have announced that Seidler will assume the position of Chairman, while Ron Fowler will transition to the role of Vice Chairman.

Seidler, 60, previously held the title of General Partner and has been the lead investor of the Padres since 2012.

“I greatly appreciate the support of Commissioner Manfred and the other MLB team owners and am excited to assume the responsibilities of control person and Chairman,” Seidler said. “The Padres hold a special place in San Diego and our organization will continue to work tirelessly to bring consistent championship quality baseball to our supportive and deserving fans. I particularly want to thank Ron for being instrumental in building outstanding qualities including a strong work ethic, an entrepreneurial spirit and a focus on continuous improvement into the foundation of our…

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres have signed right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger to a two-year contract through the 2022 season, Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller announced today. The agreement replaces Clevinger’s two remaining seasons of arbitration eligibility and includes deferments and performance bonuses. Additionally, Clevinger is scheduled to undergo ulnar collateral ligament surgery (“Tommy John”) on Tuesday, November 17th. He is expected to miss the entirety of the 2021 season.

The 29-year-old posted a 2.84 ERA (6 ER, 19.0 IP) in four regular season starts for the Padres in 2020 after being acquired in a nine-player trade from the Cleveland Indians on August 31st. Between San Diego and Cleveland last season, the right-hander boasted a 3.02 ERA in eight starts with 40 strikeouts against 14 walks. Clevinger was diagnosed with a right posterior elbow impingement following his final regular season start on September 23 vs. LAA, and in his sole Postseason appearance in the 2020 National League Division Series on October 6 vs. …