Padres Add Luis Gutierrez to 40-Man Roster

The Padres added Gutierrez, a 23-year-old left-handed pitcher from Venezuela, to their 40-man roster on November 2. He was the only Rule 5-eligible prospect the team added Monday, keeping him in the organization for next season and preventing him from becoming a minor-league free agent.

Gutierrez pitched at four minor-league levels in 2026, but injuries limited him to 13 starts. He had a 7.71 ERA over two starts at Triple-A, following a 5.40 ERA in one Triple-A start in 2025. He had also been eligible for the Rule 5 draft last year and was not selected.

The Padres are retaining a pitcher with a four-pitch repertoire: a four-seam fastball, sinker, slider and changeup. His fastball has reached 97 mph, and further progress could put him in contention for a rotation place in spring training. A move to the bullpen or another year of development also remain possibilities.

Other Padres minor leaguers who could be eligible for the Rule 5 draft include Tucker Musgrove, a right-handed pitcher who works in relief; Jagger Haynes, a left-handed pitcher; and outfielders Braedon Karpathios and Jake Cunningham. Any one of them could be selected if another club chooses him.

The draft is usually held on the final day of December’s Winter Meetings. Those meetings may not take place if a lockout begins as expected on December 1, and the draft’s timing is unclear until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.