"Confirmed, we're broke"; "Using Groupon to sign free agents" - Padres fan frustration grows after Kyle Hart's return

Despite showing plenty of promise in the regular season, the San Diego Padres' 2025 campaign came to a disappointing end, as they crashed out of the postseason in the very first round.

Ahead of 2026, fans are hoping the team can make some important acquisitions to improve the roster. However, no such news has been forthcoming yet.

On Monday, the Friars took to X to announce they had re-signed southpaw Kyle Hart to a one-year deal, with a club option for an extra season.

"Welcome back to San Diego, Kyle! We have signed left-handed pitcher Kyle Hart to a one-year contract through the 2026 season with a club option for 2027." the Padres posted

This was not the kind of signing fans were hoping for, and several frustrated supporters left comments on the post making their feelings known.

"Confirmed. Were broke AF" a fan wrote

"With budget woes Padres front office is now using Groupon to sign free agents" another fan commented

"See you in 27 with new ownership!" another fan replied

"maybe sign good players ever think of that" another fan responded

"Preller shot his payroll wad. This is the bullsh*t we get now. Sellout after sellout to go bargain basement shopping." another fan shared

"When I see this, the only thing that comes to mind 💭 is We’re Cooked!" another fan posted

Bolstering the starting pitching staff is top priority for the San Diego Padres this offseason

When all their players are healthy, the San Diego Padres boast one of the most formidable starting pitching rotations in all of baseball. However, things could end up looking extremely different by the time next season begins.

Frontline starters Michael King and Dylan Cease are both free agents, and it is still uncertain whether they will continue at Petco Park. Veteran Yu Darvish, meanwhile, will end up missing the entirety of the 2026 season, having recently undergone elbow surgery.

This leaves the Friars in severe need of making deals for a number of high-quality starters this offseason. Though reports have linked them to the likes of Joe Ryan and Cody Ponce, nothing has been finalized yet.

With the LA Dodgers coming off their second World Series title in a row and looking to get even stronger in the winter, Padres fans will be hoping their team can also make the necessary deals to ensure they can compete with their arch-rivals in 2026.

Edited by Raghav Mehta