Espada signed with the Tokyo-Yakult Swallows of the NPB on Sunday.
Espada made one major-league appearance with the Padres last season, striking out two batters and walking two in one inning of work. The 26-year-old righty will now look to make a name for himself in Japan after putting up a 2.92 ERA and 1.30 WHIP through 83.1 frames between Double-A and Triple-A.
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Padres' Jose Espada: Re-signed by San Diego
Rotowire
The Padres re-signed Espada to a minor-league contract Nov. 25.
Espada elected free agency after the Padres non-tendered him last month but was brought back by the organization a week later. He made one appearance with San Diego in 2023 but spent most of the year between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso, collecting a 2.81 ERA with 110 strikeouts over 83.1 innings.
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Jose Espada: Non-tendered off roster
Rotowire
Espada was non-tendered Friday by the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Espada registered an impressive 2.81 ERA with 110 strikeouts over 83.1 innings this past season between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A El Paso. He also worked a scoreless inning of relief in his Sept. 24 major-league debut. The 26-year-old right-hander has some command issues to iron out, but he should draw interest from other organizations in free agency.
The Padres selected Espada's contract from Triple-A El Paso on Friday.
Esapda gets his first call to the majors at age 26 after working to a 2.81 ERA and 110:44 K:BB in 83.1 innings (nine starts, 26 relief appearances) this season between Double-A and Triple-A. The right-hander will presumably operate in a multi-inning bullpen role for San Diego.
