San Diego, CA

If Padres lose Jurickson Profar, options include longtime prospect and SpongeBob

Published

2 years ago

December 9, 2024

If Padres lose Jurickson Profar, options include longtime prospect and SpongeBob

Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings are underway in Dallas. Now that Juan Soto’s gargantuan contract has been solidified the market for free agent outfielders should get active in a hurry. Soto is a special case so his 15-year, $765 million “I am Steve Cohen, hear me roar” contract really has no impact on how other players are going to be paid.

Michael Conforto, on the other hand, could create a ripple effect. The Dodgers gave the 32-year-old outfielder a one-year, $17 million deal that seems like a reach for a guy who’s never driven in 100 runs in a season. If that’s the going rate for a good but not life-altering talent then … and we take no joy in admitting this … it might get extremely difficult for the Padres to hang on to Jurickson Profar.

It’s no secret that Profar is at his best in San Diego and the Padres are at their best with Profar. But, if Conforto got $17 million then Jurickson has a legitimate argument he’s worth at least that, which could very well make him too expensive for the the Friars, especially with big-spending teams like the Yankees and Red Sox in the market for a corner outfielder.

Padres general manager A.J. Preller, who is rarely caught without a backup plan, has assembled some interesting under-the-radar players that seem like low-risk, potentially high-reward plays (not unlike Profar was a year ago when he signed for one year and $1 million). The first guy on that list has been with the club for several years already but never played at Petco Park.

Tirso Ornelas was signed as a 16-year-old as part of the Padres 2016-17 international class. The Tijuana, Mexico native has been in the organization ever since, putting up good but not great numbers. In 2024, things may have finally clicked.

Ornelas had his best professional season at Triple-A El Paso, hitting .297 with 23 home runs and 89 RBI. He’s carried that success over into the Mexican Winter League, rolling up a .922 OPS with Charros de Jalisco. In the middle of last year the Padres added Ornelas to their 40-man roster, meaning he’ll be at big league Spring Training with a chance to earn a roster spot.

Then we have a couple of players who were added on minor league contracts. Yonathan Perlaza is a 25-year-old, switch-hitting outfielder who looked like he was an up-and-coming prospect in the Cubs organization. As a member of the Iowa Cubs in 2023 he finished 5th in the International League in OPS (among qualified players), then headed overseas to play the 2024 season with the Hanwha Eagles in the Korea Baseball Organization, where he led the club with 24 homers.

Perlaza will also be at Spring Training to see if he can earn a reserve outfield spot. But, the guy who might have right of first refusal on left field if there’s an opening is Oscar Gonzalez, who goes by the nickname “SpongeBob.”

Gonzalez got the moniker in the minor leagues when he started using the theme song from the SpongeBob Squarepants TV show as his walkup music because, as he said in an interview, “Because kids love that song and this is a kids game.” If that doesn’t make you immediately like the guy, perhaps his penchant for winning playoff games will.

When he came up as a rookie in 2022, Gonzalez hit one of the most memorable home runs in postseason history. Cleveland and Tampa Bay were tied in the 15th inning when he launched a walkoff solo shot to send the Guardians to the American League Division Series.

He followed that up with a walkoff single in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Yankees, a series New York eventually won in Game 5. After that season, things went downhill. Gonzalez battled injuries in 2023 and was placed on waivers. He spent last season in the Yankees organization but never got back to the Major Leagues. When he hit free agency, the Padres swooped in to grab him on a minor league deal.

Gonzalez is still just 26 years old. The Friars are hoping he can revert to his rookie and, at worst, be a reliable depth piece on a club with World Series aspirations.

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San Diego, CA

Daily Business Report: July 17, 2026, San Diego Metro Magazine

Published

8 hours ago

July 17, 2026

Press Room

Letter to the Editor: Apartment Vacancy Rates Paint an Incomplete Picture

By David Malcolm | Voice of San Diego

In last Saturday’s “Politics Report,” Will Huntsberry tackled the thorny issue of apartment vacancy rates (apparently the highest in this century) and the impact on affordability. He also correctly wrote that the city of San Diego needs “strategies beyond build, build, build.”

What’s Really Happening

My company owns and operates apartment rental complexes in San Diego County (San Marcos, Encinitas, La Jolla, El Cajon and South Bay) and in Temecula (Riverside County). Here is what we are seeing.

Base rents are stable … but offers of two months’ free rent are common. That is a de facto 16.7 percent reduction on annualized rents. Reducing base rents is not possible in the face of rent control measures and, even more importantly, bank loan covenants. Thus, concessions like two months’ free rent are not hard to find.

New study shows promising step forward in improving Parkinson’s treatment

by Nicole Abrams | Times of San Diego

A small molecule was found to increase the benefits and reduce the side effects of the standard drug for Parkinson’s disease, according to a new study from UC San Diego startup called Sinopia Biosciences.

L-dopa or levodopa is the main treatment for Parkinson’s disease, but its benefits wane over time and can cause involuntary movements called dyskinesia. About 90% of patients with Parkinson’s disease develop dyskinesia in 9 or more years of using L-dopa, and 70% develop motor fluctuations in 9 or more years of using the drug, according to the study.

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San Diego, CA

EXCLUSIVE: Ignition Press Welcomes eBay Live & Revenge Of to San Diego Comic-Con Ignition Pavilion

Published

20 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

The Ignition Press – Ignition Pavilion is leveling up in a big way for San Diego Comic-Con this year.

Following last year’s successful debut, Ignition Press is expanding its offsite with several major new partners, transforming the Ignition Pavilion into a hub for comics, collectibles, livestream shopping, food, and drinks. The free experience at the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center (200 Harbor Dr.) will now feature activations from eBay Live and Revenge Of, alongside the return of Seven Seas Roasting Company and several new fan experiences.

One of the biggest additions this year is a dedicated eBay Live selling lounge, where livestreams will broadcast throughout the convention, bringing Comic-Con to fans around the world.

Stop by throughout the week to find live sketches and signings with comic legends Bill Sienkiewicz (hosted by Big Clutch) and Jim Lee (hosted by ANZ Collects), while Storage Wars star Rene Nezhoda will showcase a rare PSA-pedigreed collection of vintage, Silver Age, and Bronze Age comics.

Fans can also tune in for the debut of an exclusive DC x eBay Live Absolute Batman & Absolute Catwoman connecting cover, shop signed Ignition Press SDCC exclusives, rare comics, and other collectibles, and catch appearances from fan-favorite creators and influencers throughout the weekend.

The Pavilion also welcomes Los Angeles lifestyle brand Revenge Of, making its San Diego Comic-Con debut with a curated comics and pop culture experience, while its sister company, FTB.Design, is handling the Pavilion’s production design.

“Both eBay Live and Revenge Of TV are going to give both fans onsite and at home the opportunity to get in on special programming and chances to get SDCC exclusive merchandise,” said Creative Director Jeremy Haun. “We’re doing something new, big, and different here at the Ignition Pavilion. You’re not going to want to miss it.”

Coffee lovers can once again grab a free drink from Seven Seas Roasting Company between 12pm-4pm, Thursday through Sunday, by signing up for the Ignition Insiders newsletter. The first 200 fans each day can redeem a voucher for coffee, espresso drinks, chai, or tea.

Later each afternoon (Thursday-Saturday, 5pm-7pm), the coffee bar transforms into the Ignition Pavilion Happy Hour, serving themed cocktails, beer, wine, mocktails, and complimentary drink tickets with qualifying purchases. Fans can also preorder a limited-edition bottle of Ignition Proof Rum, created in partnership with Los Angeles distillery The Obscure.

The Ignition Pavilion is free and open to the public at the following times:

Wednesday, July 22: 5:00pm-9:00pm
Thursday, July 23: 12:00pm-8:00pm
Friday, July 24: 12:00pm-8:00pm
Saturday, July 25: 12:00pm-8:00pm
Sunday, July 26: 12:00pm-6:00pm

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San Diego, CA

Karepango San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Debuts, Merchandise

Published

1 day ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

Karepango San Diego Comic-Con 2026 Debuts, Merchandise

Karepango, the colorful and unapologetic brand that aims to bring a smile in the most unexpected time, is coming to Comic-Con to spread joy, and give attendees the chance to show the world they are imperfect, yet still proud.

Find them at booth #5034, located in the Hall G area of the convention center, and will have dozens of their classic bestsellers, recent products and even a brand new exclusive (and very limited) shirt.

All purchases will receive free gifts, with an extra special gift for purchases over $100.

All clothing is available in sizes XS through 2XL, but in limited quantities per size.

Let’s get shopping:

Have A Good Day Shirts – $48
Limited to 75 pieces
Purple or brown with front and back printing

100% Cotton Knit Sweaters – $88
Oversized and pre-shrunk