# Padres Seek Jake Bauers for 2026 World Series

> Padres could sign Jake Bauers, a 2026 World Series player with a 26-homer season, to fill their first baseman gap.
- Title: Padres Seek Jake Bauers for 2026 World Series | Shortify
- Summary: Padres could sign Jake Bauers, a 2026 World Series player with a 26-homer season, to fill their first baseman gap. Padres may sign Jake Bauers, a Milwaukee…
- Keywords: san diego padres, jake bauers, milwaukee brewers, ty france, 2026 world series, mlb, first baseman, sports, Padres, Seek, Jake, Bauers
- Source: San Diego Padres On SI — https://si.com/mlb/padres/onsi/one-world-series-player-perfect-fit-padres
- Published: 2026-10-20T16:00:03+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: san diego padres, jake bauers, milwaukee brewers, ty france, 2026 world series, mlb, first baseman, sports
## Jake Bauers Drafted by Padres
In the seventh round of the 2013 MLB Draft, the San Diego Padres selected a first baseman from Marina High School in Huntington Beach named Jake Bauers.
## Bauers as Throw-in in Trade
Bauers was effectively a throw-in to the December 2014 trade that sent Trea Turner to the Washington Nationals and brought Wil Myers to the Padres.

> Steven Souza Jr., now the Padres' hitting coach, was sent from the Washington Nationals to the Tampa Bay Rays in the same three-team trade.
## Bauers' 2026 World Series Role
Among all the players who will participate in the 2026 World Series, none poses more intrigue for the Padres than Bauers, whose career-high 26-homer season for the Milwaukee Brewers came just in time for his…
## Bauers' 2026 Performance
Bauers slashed .266/.389/.484 in 144 games (all career bests) for the Brewers in the regular season.
## Bauers' NLDS Performance
Bauers only had three hits in four NL Division Series games against the Padres, but he reached base at a .471 clip.
## Padres Need Plan B
With Ty France headed for free agency after a career year of his own, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller needs a Plan B in case he can't re-sign the first baseman.

> Bauers is a logical fit.
## Bauers' Bargain Contract
The Brewers paid Bauers only $2.7 million in 2026, a bargain for a player who accrued 3.3 Wins Above Replacement according to Baseball Reference.

> A deeper dive suggests Bauers' surface stats were no fluke.
## Bauers' Statcast Elite Stats
According to Statcast, Bauers' barrel rate, exit velocity and bat speed were all elite in 2026.
## Bauers' Versatility
A left-handed hitter who can also play both corner outfield positions, Bauers would give the Padres a more balanced lineup than the right-handed hitting France.
## Key takeaway

Padres may sign Jake Bauers, a Milwaukee Brewers player with a 26-homer season, to replace Ty France.