5-Year Padres Veteran Leaves MLB Shortly After Brutal Outing
Former San Diego Padres right-hander Pedro Avila has opted to leave affiliated baseball, signing with the SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization for the remainder of the 2026 season. The 29-year-old's decision follows a challenging stretch in Triple-A with Cleveland's affiliate, where he posted a 7.50 ERA, including a particularly brutal final outing. Despite these recent struggles, Avila has a solid major league resume, having pitched 146 1/3 innings across five seasons with the Padres and Guardians, maintaining a 3.51 ERA primarily as a multi-inning reliever and swingman. This move offers Avila a fresh start in Asia, where he will earn $380,000 plus incentives, aiming to rebuild his value and potentially secure another opportunity in Major League Baseball.
As the San Diego Padres head toward the trade deadline without much clarity about buying versus selling, they’ve received an update on a former player who might have appeared like an intriguing reclamation project.
Earlier this week, former Padres right-hander Pedro Avila has chosen to leave affiliated baseball altogether after a difficult stretch in Triple-A made it clear he’d be better served elsewhere.
“The SSG Landers of the Korea Baseball Organization announced Wednesday that they’ve signed right-hander Pedro Avila for the remainder of the 2026 season,” Steve Adams reported for MLB Trade Rumors. “Cleveland released Avila, who’d been pitching with their Triple-A club, last week in order to facilitate the move.”
The change officially ends Avila's latest stint in affiliated baseball and gives the 29-year-old an opportunity to revive his career in Asia.
While Avila struggled throughout the 2026 season at Triple-A Columbus, his overall major league resume remains stronger than his most recent statistics suggest.
“Avila, 29, is a veteran of five big league seasons,” Adams noted. “He’s pitched 146 1/3 major league innings between the Padres and (Cleveland) Guardians. In that time, he’s logged a solid 3.51 ERA with a 23.8% strikeout rate, a 10.6% walk rate and a 49.2% ground-ball rate, working primarily as a multi-inning reliever/swingman.”
Avila spent parts of five seasons with San Diego before later joining Cleveland's organization, building a reputation as a versatile pitcher capable of working both in relief and as a spot starter.
However, his latest campaign never gained traction. And his final outing with the Guardians organization was particularly brutal, as he gave up seven earned runs in less than two innings.
Avila's struggles in Columbus ultimately opened the door for a move overseas.
“Avila, 29, will make US$380,000 in salary for the rest of this Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season, and earn another $200,000 in incentives,” Yonhap News Agency’s Yoo Jee-ho reported. “Avila has spent the 2026 season with Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers, going 3-7 with a 7.50 ERA in 15 outings, including 13 starts.”
Those numbers included several difficult outings late in his Triple-A tenure, making a change of scenery an appealing option for both player and organization.
Now with the SSG Landers, Avila will attempt to rebuild his value against KBO competition. A successful run overseas could eventually position the former Padres swingman for another opportunity in Major League Baseball while giving the Landers an experienced arm for the remainder of the 2026 season.