The San Diego Padres could be in trouble heading into 2026. With several key pitchers approaching free agency, the club will likely need to turn to the open market to fill out its starting rotation.
Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove headline the projected 2026 staff, with Randy Vasquez and Yu Darvish also in the mix. However, Darvish struggled in 2025, finishing with an ERA above 5.30.
The potential departures of Michael King, Dylan Cease and Robert Suarez would leave major holes in a pitching staff that ranked among the best in baseball last season. The Padres finished third in team ERA at 3.60, trailing only the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers.
General manager A.J. Preller acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the rotation and hinted that internal options could help fill the void.
“(He’s) a lefty (Morejon) that’s throwing three plus pitches with command and the ability to use him in different places in the game,” Preller said when asked about potential in-house arms. “I think that’ll be a conversation as we get into it, similar to Mason, about what that looks like here for next year.”
Preller’s comments suggest the Padres may consider transitioning star relievers Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon into starting roles.
However, such a move could create a new problem. If the Padres lose Suarez in free agency and shift both Miller and Morejon into the rotation, the team’s once-dominant bullpen could be stretched thin.
One thing is certain as San Diego enters the offseason: to remain among the league’s top pitching teams in 2026, the Padres will need to either retain their key arms or invest heavily in starting and relief pitching on the free-agent market.