18 Mitch Moreland 1B

The Padres declined Moreland's $3 million club option for 2021 on Sunday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The 35-year-old was acquired from the Red Sox ahead of the August trade deadline, but the Padres won't be bringing him back for 2021 under the modest team option. The uncertainty of whether the National League will have the designated hitter again next season figures to have played a role in the decision. Moreland had a .328/.430/.746 slash line with eight homers in 22 games with Boston before the trade, but he never found his footing after being sent west, posting a .203/.247/.362 slash line and two homers n 20 games for San Diego.

Moreland isn't starting Game 2 of the NLDS against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

With the Dodgers starting another southpaw (Clayton Kershaw), Moreland will retreat to the bench once again as he remains in a platoon role. Tommy Pham will serve as the designated hitter with Jurickson Profar taking over in left field.

Moreland is not in the lineup for Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers.

The lefty-hitting Moreland has largely filled a platoon role for the Padres since being acquired from Boston ahead of the trade deadline, but he'll take a seat with a right-hander (Walker Buehler) on the mound for Los Angeles. He'll presumably remain on the bench for Game 2 on Wednesday, when the Dodgers bring southpaw Clayton Kershaw to the hill.

Moreland is out of the lineup Wednesday for Game 1 of the Padres' wild-card series with the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are bringing a southpaw (Kwang Hyun Kim) to the hill for the postseason opener, so the lefty-hitting Moreland's absence from the lineup doesn't come as a major surprise. Eric Hosmer will start at first base while Tommy Pham takes Moreland's spot as the Padres' designated hitter.

Moreland went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Saturday's 6-2 victory over San Francisco.

Moreland entered the contest having gone 0-for-8 over his previous three games but got back on the right track with an RBI single in the fourth inning. He built upon that hit with a 424-foot solo shot in the ninth inning. Moreland has 10 homers overall this season, though eight came during his early season stint with the Red Sox.

Moreland is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Giants.

Moreland has struggled with a .498 OPS in 17 games since being acquired by the Padres, and he will head to the bench for Friday's matinee with lefty Tyler Anderson starting for the Giants. Tommy Pham will bat seventh as the designated hitter while Jurickson Profar starts in left field.

Moreland is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Though the Padres are facing a right-handed pitcher (Jaime Barria) in the series finale, the lefty-hitting Moreland will take a seat as manager Jayce Tingler gives Manny Machado a day out of the field and deploys him as San Diego's designated hitter. Moreland has predictably cooled down since arriving in San Diego on Aug. 30 after an unsustainably hot start to the season while he was with Boston. Through his first 16 games with the Padres, Moreland is hitting .172 with five extra-base hits (one home run, four doubles) over 58 at-bats.

Moreland will sit against lefty Justus Sheffield and the Mariners on Saturday, Lauren Smith of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Moreland started against a lefty (Yusei Kikuchi) on Friday, but now that Eric Hosmer is back from his fractured finger, he won't have to any more. Both he and Hosmer are lefties, though, so it's still possible he's the one to get the nod against a southpaw occasionally. Hosmer will start at first base in this one, with Tommy Pham serving as the designated hitter.

Moreland will be on the bench Monday against the Dodgers.

Moreland sits with Clayton Kershaw lined up to start for the Dodgers. The first baseman hasn't done much in his first 11 games for his new team, hitting .167/.231/.306. Jake Cronenworth will slide over to first Monday, with Jorge Mateo entering the lineup at second.

Moreland went 1-for-3 with a walk, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored Wednesday against the Rockies.

Moreland took Antonio Senzatela yard in the opening inning, his first in a Padres uniform. He's yet to hit his stride in San Diego in all aspects of his performance as he's collected just five hits -- two of which have gone for extra-bases -- in 27 at-bats. Overall between two teams, Moreland's numbers still look good as he is hitting .287/.380/.628 across 108 plate appearances.

Moreland is expected to start most games at first base while Eric Hosmer (finger) is on the injured list, Annie Heilbrunn of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The Padres' acquisition of Moreland at the trade deadline takes on extra significance with Hosmer expected to miss most of the remainder of the regular season with a broken finger. It remains to be seen whether Moreland will now be in the lineup on a regular basis against left-handed starters; he has 78 total at-bats on the season against righties but only 13 against southpaws, against whom he has registered three hits and two RBI. Should the Padres elect to keep the veteran's platoon role intact, both Jake Cronenworth and Austin Nola could end up logging time at first base. Moreland started and went 2-for-5 with a double against Colorado on Tuesday, with all five at-bats coming against right-handers.

Moreland isn't in the lineup Monday against the Rockies.

Moreland has gone hitless in his last seven at-bats, and he'll retreat to the bench for the third time in the past four games. Jorge Ona will make his major-league debut as the designated hitter Monday.

Moreland isn't in Saturday's lineup against the Athletics.

Moreland will sit for a second consecutive game after going 2-for-11 in his last three contests. Austin Nola will serve as the designated hitter with Luis Campusano starting behind the dish.

Moreland isn't in Friday's lineup against the Athletics.

Moreland has gone 2-for-11 with a walk and one strikeout over the past three games and will get a day off Friday. Luis Campusano will start as the designated hitter.

The Red Sox traded Moreland to the Padres on Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. Boston received infielder Hudson Potts and outfielder Jeisson Rosario in exchange from San Diego.

As a veteran on an expiring contract, Moreland was an expendable piece for an 11-22 Red Sox squad ahead of Monday's trade deadline. In San Diego, Moreland should fill the large side of a platoon at designated hitter while occasionally spelling Eric Hosmer at first base. Moreland has posted 1.177 OPS over 79 plate appearances this season, and he owns a career .257/.326/.471 slash line (108 wRC+) versus right-handed pitching.

Moreland went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 9-1 loss to Toronto.

Moreland has been a bright light in a dismal season for the Red Sox, who managed just three hits in the loss. The homer was Moreland's team-high eighth in just 20 games. Starting only against right-handers -- he has nine plate appearances against southpaws -- the lefty-hitting Moreland is enjoying his best season, slashing .350/.458/.817.

Moreland went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double, two runs scored and two RBI in Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Blue Jays.

The key plate appearance for the veteran slugger came in the sixth inning when he drew a leadoff walk to chase Jays starter Chase Anderson from the game, and the Red Sox then erupted for six runs against the Toronto bullpen. Moreland continues to thrive in a platoon role -- he's seen only nine PAs all year against southpaws -- and is now slashing a massive .357/.471/.804 through 19 games with seven homers and 20 RBI.

Moreland is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

The lefty-hitting Moreland will give way to platoon mate Michael Chavis at first base while southpaw Wade LeBlanc twirls for the Orioles. Moreland has received just nine plate appearances against left-handed pitching this season, recording three base hits.

Moreland will sit against southpaw John Means and the Orioles on Friday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Moreland has yet to start against a single lefty this season. Michael Chavis starts at first base in his absence, as he's done against every southpaw the Red Sox have faced this year.

Moreland went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk in a 7-1 win over Baltimore on Thursday.

Boston entered the ninth inning clinging to a two-run lead, but Moreland widened the gap considerably with a three-run shot to center field to punctuate a four-run frame. Though the 34-year-old's fantasy value is somewhat tempered by the fact that he doesn't start against southpaws, Moreland's effectiveness when he does play has been impressive. He is slashing .360/.448/.840 through 58 plate appearances while tallying seven home runs and 17 RBI.