TODAY: The deal is definitely a four-year pact value $15MM, as per Ronald Blum of the Related Press, with the fourth yr present as a participant possibility for Tune. There may be additionally a $7MM mutual possibility for the 2030 season with a $1M buyout. Tune will get a $2.5MM wage in 2026, $3MM in 2027, $3.5MM in 2028, and (if he doesn’t choose out) $4MM in 2029. The Padres will even pay Tune a $1MM signing bonus damaged up right into a $500K installment in January, after which the opposite $500K coming in January 2027.
Tune would additionally obtain a $1MM bonus for profitable NL Rookie of the 12 months honors, and there’s a wage escalator if he achieves a top-five end in MVP voting. The Heroes will obtain a $3MM posting payment from the Padres, representing the usual 20% posting payment hooked up to any contract value $25MM or much less for a KBO League participant.
DECEMBER 19: The Padres are in settlement with infielder Sung Mun Tune on a contract, in accordance with a report from Robert Murray of FanSided. In response to Francys Romero of BeisbolFR, it’s a three-year deal that ensures Tune round $13MM.
Tune, 29, has damaged out in a giant approach over his final two seasons enjoying for the KBO’s Kiwoom Heroes. After sometimes being a barely under common hitter by that league’s requirements within the early years of his profession, Tune exploded with a .340/.408/.518 (143 wRC+) slash line throughout 602 plate appearances in the course of the 2024 season. He flashed 20/20 potential on the plate and walked at a career-high 10.6% clip whereas primarily enjoying third base for the Heroes. He adopted up on that season with a fair higher yr in 2025, as he slashed .315/.387/.530 (151 wRC+) with 26 homers, 25 steals, and 37 doubles in 646 journeys to the plate.
These dominant back-to-back campaigns within the KBO league had been sufficient to persuade Tune to strive his hand within the majors, and the Heroes made Tune’s objective a actuality after they posted him for MLB golf equipment final month. That opened a 30-day window (set to shut on the twenty first of December) for Tune to barter with MLB golf equipment. Tune has sometimes been seen by scouts as a step under MLB Gold Glove winner Ha-Seong Kim, the most effective South Korean participant to make the soar to the majors lately, and there’s been some debate about whether or not he’s extra of a utility participant or a correct starter on the large league degree.
Tune’s reported price ticket is actually inexpensive sufficient for the Padres to abdomen within the occasion he’s extra of a bench piece than a daily. A multi-year pact that pays Tune lower than $5MM yearly figures to be fairly inexpensive for San Diego; Jose Iglesias earned $3MM final yr after being added to San Diego’s roster on a minor league deal to fill out the membership’s bench combine. Tune figures to fill an identical position this yr to the one Iglesias held final season, chipping in across the infield and serving as a pinch-hitter.
Whereas Tune has primarily performed third base all through his profession within the KBO league, that place is manned by Manny Machado in San Diego. Maybe the Padres will look to get Machado occasional DH reps headed into his age-33 marketing campaign, however other than these occasional fill-in days Tune figures to spend most of his time at first and second base, each of that are positions he logged vital time at in South Korea. Jake Cronenworth is presently slated to function San Diego’s second baseman subsequent yr, although his identify has popped up in commerce talks this winter. First base in the meantime, is unsettled after the departure of Luis Arraez. Gavin Sheets has some expertise on the place however could also be higher suited to DH duties. In consequence, first base could possibly be Tune’s greatest shot at common reps, although it’s attainable a commerce of Cronenworth or the addition of a extra conventional first base possibility like Paul Goldschmidt or Rhys Hoskins adjustments issues.
The signing of Tune comes simply at some point after the membership agreed to reunite with right-hander Michael King on a three-year, opt-out laden contract. In response to RosterResource, the Padres challenge for a payroll just below $217MM in 2026, with a payroll of almost $258MM for luxurious tax functions. That’s earlier than the addition of Tune to the payroll, which on the presently reported numbers would push the crew’s payroll as much as round $221MM and round $262MM for luxurious tax functions. That may put them simply barely under the second, $264MM luxurious tax threshold for 2026.
If the Padres don’t wish to go over that line, they would wish to subtract wage from the roster to make nearly any extra additions to the roster. That’s removed from inconceivable, as rumors have percolated round not solely Cronenworth but additionally gamers like right-hander Nick Pivetta and Ramon Laureano. A commerce of Pivetta would save $20.5MM in 2026 and $13.75MM for luxurious tax functions. Cronenworth being dealt would save roughly $12.3MM in 2026 and $11.5MM for luxurious tax functions. Laureano wouldn’t save almost as a lot cash, as he’s due simply $6.5MM subsequent season on the ultimate yr of his contract.
After all, it’s additionally attainable the Padres merely stand pat from right here, although doing so with out including one other bat to the primary base/DH combine would definitely be dangerous. Maybe an addition on the commerce market that comes with a decrease monetary price might make some sense if San Diego neither needs to exceed the second luxurious tax threshold nor commerce wage to make room within the price range. Gamers like Triston Casas of the Pink Sox and Mark Vientos of the Mets might doubtlessly be obtainable this winter and stay underneath inexpensive crew management.
