San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller is a magician of sorts.
Time and time again, he shocks the baseball world with ambitious moves that seemingly appear out of thin air. That was the case once again at the 2025 Trade Deadline, when Preller masterfully orchestrated five deals involving 22 players.
The Padres will have plenty more big decisions to make this winter. And in a new piece on MLB.com by Mark Feinsand, executives reveal how they think San Diego could approach the offseason.
MLB execs on Padres’ offseason plans
Let’s start with the offensive lineup. Several core players are signed for years to come, including Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, among others.
That puts San Diego in a good spot. But its pitching is far from certain, as Michael King and Dylan Cease are about to enter free agency while closer Robert Suarez is expected to opt out of his contract, per Feinsand.
Additionally, Jason Adams is dealing with a ruptured quad tendon that could keep him out for part of the 2026 season, and Wandy Peralta could opt out of the final three years of his contract.
Three-time batting champion Luis Arraez and recent deadline acquisition Ryan O’Hearn will also be free agents.
So what will the Padres do?
“I can’t see a scenario where they don’t continue to work on adding pieces that they think can help them win a championship,” an NL executive said, per Feinsand.
Another AL executive said San Diego’s offseason approach revolves around one question: “How much money will they have to spend?”
According to Feinsand, if everything plays out as expected, approximately $152 million will be committed to nine players. Arbitration raises will add to that number.
Then the Padres will have to decide whether to re-sign King or Cease—they won’t be able to do both. But ultimately, MLB execs believe Preller will do what he’s done so many times before.
“A reasonable baseline assumption is that A.J. will continue to do what he’s always done in San Diego: attempt to maximize the current season’s roster while worrying about the future when he gets there,” an NL executive said. “How that plays out exactly is anyone’s guess. But we shouldn’t assume that his M.O. is going to change all of a sudden just because the Padres will be losing a handful of impact players.”