News Padres Team Notes

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: The Padres have some talent in the minors, but will they ever make the MLB roster in San Diego?

In baseball, there are typically two camps, (1) people who love prospects and the potential they bring for the long-term future of an organization or (2) people who see prospects as capital to be used to trade and improve the big-league club.

San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller has been in that second group for the past several years. He likes to build the farm up with young, promising talent and then tear it down by trading it away to acquire major league ready talent.

The 2025 deadline trade of minor league shortstop Leodalis De Vries for Mason Miller and JP Sears is the most recent example of this. As much as Preller builds up and tears down the farm, it is a wonder that there are any Padres prospects left that draw the attention of national baseball writers. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball looks at the top 10 San Diego farmhands according to Baseball America.

Padres News:

• Speculation abounds about what teams will pursue and sign what players and the Padres are no exception. AJ Cassavell of Padres.com gives some insight about what fans need to know as Preller and the San Diego front office personnel head to Orlando next week.

• After taking a look at the catching prospects in the San Diego system, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune sets his sights on the infielders in the Padres farm system. Will those players even make the majors? Will Preller keep them long enough to see hem take the field as a member of the San Diego roster? That remains to be seen.

Baseball News:

• The Toronto Blue Jays took down the first big name off free agency, signing Dylan Cease to bolster their rotation. Toronto was not done though as the Blue Jays agreed to a three-year contract with right-hander Cody Ponce.

• Another pitching option for the San Diego rotation came off the free-agent list with the Los Angeles Angels agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with starter Alek Manoah.

• The Houston Astros followed suit and signed a pitcher as well, agreeing to terms with KBO pitcher Ryan Weiss. The question always remains about how the players and pitchers will handle the move from the KBO to MLB, but the Astros have seen enough and Weiss will be in the fold in Houston in 2026.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ll-they-ever-make-the-mlb-roster-in-san-diego

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey: Will San Diego break its silence at MLB Winter Meetings?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The MLB Winter Meetings are approaching and the San Diego Padres have yet to address any needs on their roster. Outside of re-signing left-hander Kyle Hart and a couple of minor league signings, the Padres have not done much of anything. Other teams have been making headlines around baseball with free agent signings and even a couple trades, but San Diego continues to employ the poker face that has not even allowed a rumor to trickle out of the organization about what money, if any, there is to spend, who might be considered as a trade candidate or even who the team has interest in.

That approach may play well in MLB front offices, but it leaves fans of the Padres to speculate anything from a complete rebuild to throwing caution to the wind to land a big-name free agent like first baseman Pete Alonso.

Perhaps this is just the calm before the storm. Maybe San Diego will see a flurry of moves during the MLB Winter Meetings? It seems unlikely considering the uncertain future of labor relations in baseball, the potential sale of the franchise and the ongoing uncertainty about the future of president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller, who is heading into the final year if his contract with the Padres.

It all remains to be seen. Preller has shown the ability to fill vacancies on the roster through various means during his time in San Diego and there are no shortage of vacancies on the Padres roster. The question is, will Preller get to work addressing the needs of the team during the MLB Winter Meetings or will he wait until another time in the offseason to make his moves? We will know soon enough.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...iego-break-its-silence-at-mlb-winter-meetings

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres offseason begins slowly

Jason Adam

Going into the official start of the Hot Stove season, the Padres still have some outstanding work to be done regarding housekeeping. President of baseball operations/general manager A.J. Preller is still a lame duck general manager and there has still not been a third base coach hired/announced.

The lack of any decision regarding Preller is a little puzzling as the contract extension was expected soon after the announcement of new manager, Craig Stammen. Nothing has been said, or information released, regarding this issue since then.

Mike Shildt announced his retirement from the Padres manager job after the 2025 season, saying he was mentally and physically unable to deal with the stress of the position any longer. Somewhat surprisingly, he has accepted a job with the Baltimore Orioles as part of their player development team on Nov. 29. This seems to indicate his desire to maintain involvement in baseball, but not at the level of team manager.

A pitcher that many in the media pointed out as being a good fit for the Padres, RHP Cody Ponce, signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. This follows on the heels of Dylan Cease signing a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Blue Jays. These two early signings indicate that starting pitcher prices may be prohibitive for the Padres. A Nick Pivetta-type option may be their only choice considering the amount of money being offered to pitchers who have either not proven themselves at the major league level or have been inconsistent.

The rumors continue that Fernando Tatis Jr. and/or Jake Cronenworth could be on the trade block. The league insiders floating these opinions believe the Padres need to offload payroll in order to fill their needs for 2026. Trading either of these Padres would create other, glaring needs within the team and make no sense.

The Padres have begun their Holiday Giving Tour by distributing 1,000 turkey dinners before Thanksgiving. With the help of reliever Jason Adam, the team gave out food to underprivileged families in San Diego.

The tour continues for the month of December with team executives, players, the Swinging Friar, team broadcasters and the Pad Squad making appearances around the city. Shopping sprees, bike giveaways, food drives, baseball clinics and food distribution events will take place here and in Tijuana to highlight the organization’s annual effort to support the community during the holiday season.

Multiple players were signed at the end of November by the Padres. These were all career minor league players signing minor league contracts and being assigned to Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.

1. RHP Sean Boyle – Signed by the New York Yankees and a career minor league player who reached Triple-A. He is 29 years old with a 4.61 ERA last season.
2. CF Jase Bowen – 25 years old and originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates. A right-handed hitter, he hit .272 with a .802 OPS. He had nine homers, 37 RBI and 20 steals in 2025 at the Triple-A level.
3. RF Nick Schnell – 25-year-old left-handed hitter who started last season with the Washington Nationals, but was sent to Triple-A soon after the start of the season. He hit .244 with a .812 OPS with 21 homers and 68 RBI.

Most likely, these are minor league depth pieces. There were no Spring Training invites announced as part of any of the signings. The two outfielders could still have development possibilities and taking chances on young players will have to be part of the offseason for the Padres.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...mmentary/51882/padres-offseason-begins-slowly

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres bracing for financial shift in SP free agent market from Ponce’s record-setting deal

The MLB Winter Meetings are a haven for baseball fans longing for 24-hour coverage of their favorite sport. The Hot Stove should come to a sizzle with the expected amount of free-agent signings and blockbuster trades to transpire next week.

The San Diego Padres need starting pitching because of the holes in their rotation. They have to fill three spots after Dylan Cease left to sign a seven-year, $210 million free agent deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, Yu Darvish is unavailable for the 2026 season following elbow surgery, and Michael King is fielding offers from other teams after opting out of his contract in October.

Blue Jays changed FA starting pitching market​

The Toronto Blue Jays have set a new salary benchmark for free agent starting pitchers after signing Cody Ponce to a three-year, $30 million deal. Other front office executives had to be aghast by the Jays giving a starting pitcher with no previous major league success such a lucrative contract. The signing offers other free agent starters more leverage in their contract negotiations.

Yes, the Padres thought Ponce was a cost-efficient rotation option, but not at those numbers. Now, the organization will have to look elsewhere, but the odds are high they will have to pay a premium price for comparable talent.

Padres have multiple SP options​

The alternative is pursuing starters in a pitching-surplus trade market. Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller must find viable options to pitch alongside Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez, and Joe Musgrove next season. Keep in mind, the Friars have limited payroll flexibility in 2026.

It is not surprising that the Friar Faithful have some skepticism about the organization acquiring quality starting pitching without adding more payroll to the budget. Instead, the market may force Preller to take on stopgap starters on short-term deals.

He needs to change the narrative, especially in the wake of media reports that the franchise is for sale. Ultimately, Preller needs to bring serviceable starters into the fold that lessens the blow of replacing Cease, Darvish, and possibly King in the rotation.

Ideally, bringing King back would be the perfect move for the franchise. There is a mutual reluctance to part ways. So, expect King to make a decision sometime during the Winter Meetings, as he does not want this stalemate to drag on much longer.

Preller may have to color outside the lines to add quality starters to the rotation. The way the market is heading after the Ponce signing, he might have to make uncomfortable financial decisions to keep the Padres in postseason contention.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...-agent-market-from-ponces-record-setting-deal

 

[San Diego Padres]

San Diego adds depth to bullpen with signing of Ty Adcock

San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller announced Thursday the team signed relief pitcher Ty Adcock to a major league contract. On the surface it looks like a general manager looking to add depth to his bullpen and make the strength of his team stronger, but could it mean something more?

The finances in San Diego have been the topic of discussion each of the past two offseasons. The Padres do not talk specifics when it comes to their salary expectations or budget, but one can speculate the organization would like to limit luxury tax penalties. Considering their current payroll is expected to be at or near $194 to $201 million according to an Oct. 28 report from Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball the Padres do not seem eager to add significantly to that number.

With an uncertain financial situation in San Diego, we have to speculate about how Preller intends to address the various needs the team has heading into the 2026 season. There is no clear first baseman on the team, three starting pitchers will either no longer be on the team or will be unavailable, and the bench is incomplete. That is a shopping list that can get expensive in a hurry, especially considering former Padres pitcher Dylan Cease landed a free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays at $210 million.

From that perspective Preller will have to address the needs of the team through free agency and more likely, trades. The problem with potential trades is that Preller has been uber aggressive each of the past two trade deadlines and it has depleted the farm system. The cupboards are not bare, but there are no prospects beating on the door to make the San Diego or any other MLB roster.

The finances and lack of trade pieces at the lower levels of the organization bring us back to the signing of Adcock. The Padres are already expected to have the best bullpen in baseball, and the 2026 season has not even started. Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon have been talked about as potential rotation additions, but like most news in San Diego, their willingness to make the move or the team’s willingness to move them to the rotation are not known.

Jason Adam is recovering from a ruptured quadriceps tendon, which ended his 2025 season and required surgery and when he will return has yet to be determined. Jeremiah Estrada has an electric fastball but was susceptible to the home run ball last season, and he struggled against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wandy Peralta had a solid season for the Padres and Yuki Matsui had up and down performances for most of the season. David Morgan had a good year and showed promise. Bradgley Rodriguez, while a bit unrefined, has the arm talent that could make him a future closer. Add to this group, Kyle Hart, Jhony Brito, Bryan Hoeing, Alek Jacob, Ron Marinaccio and it is easy to see one of a few things could be true.

The addition of Adcock could simply be adding to a strength, knowing the baseball saying is, “you can never have too much pitching.” It could mean that Miller or Morejon or both are going to prepare to start the season in the depleted San Diego rotation. Or it could be Preller and the Padres are stocking up with the intent of trading bullpen arms to acquire needed players without spending much money in free agency.

Whatever Preller and the Padres decide to do, it seems the MLB Winter Meetings next week will give the Friar Faithful some insight as to what direction the organization is going to take this offseason.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ds-depth-to-bullpen-with-signing-of-ty-adcock

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres need to address starting pitching, may have to do so via trade

With three rotation holes to fill, the San Diego Padres have no doubt been monitoring the dollars that have been given out to starting pitchers to this point in free agency. The contracts imply that addressing the pitching needs through free agency may not be attainable for San Diego from a monetary standpoint. Thomas Conroy takes a look at what the Padres have to consider as Winter Meetings kickoff next week.

Padres News:

• Winter Meetings are approaching, and Cheri Bell lays out what the week will look like for the Padres, baseball and the Friar Faithful.

• San Diego has made a few moves this offseason with the latest being the addition of reliever Ty Adcock, but the team has yet to make a splash of any kind. Perhaps that is set to change over the next week.

• Padres sign Adcock to one-year, major league deal, adding depth to a strength.

• Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune continues his review of the Padres prospects, focusing on the starting pitchers in the San Diego farm system.

Baseball News:

• Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels have struggled to rise up from the bottom of their respective standings year after year. Will Leitch of MLB.com takes a look at what each will have to do to change their fortunes.

• Dylan Cease signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, and that means there are five remaining “big-name” free agent starting pitchers, Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Tatsuya Imai, Michael King and Tatsuya Imai. Mark Fiensand of MLB.com looks at what each pitcher has to offer and potential fits moving forward.

• The Boston Red Sox made their second trade of the offseason, acquiring another starting pitcher. This time the Red Sox struck a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates to acquire Johan Oviedo in a five-player deal.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...starting-pitching-may-have-to-do-so-via-trade

 

[San Diego Padres]

The trade market offers Padres several starting pitching options

The MLB Winter Meetings begin Sunday in Orlando, Fla., and the San Diego Padres are looking to upgrade their starting rotation. Team President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller should have plenty of options available on the trade market.

The window of opportunity to contend for a postseason berth is slowly closing on the Padres. Preller’s objective this offseason is to add reliable starting pitching that complements the existing members of the rotation, Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez, and Joe Musgrove.

Pivetta had an outstanding first season in San Diego, as he led the staff with 13 wins. Vasquez is developing into a quality starter, but concerns remain about his limited major league experience. Musgrove’s health is the biggest unknown factor for the 2026 season. While he is expected to pitch, his effectiveness on the mound remains in question. The goal is for Musgrove to pitch injury-free for the first time in a while.

Berrios a potential trade target​

You would assume Preller has done his due diligence on who is available for trade. The top names that fit within the Friars’ payroll budget are Toronto Blue Jays Jose Berrios and a possible reunion with Washington Nationals MacKenzie Gore.

Berrios had a mediocre 2025 campaign with a 9-5 record and 4.17 ERA in 30 starts. He finished the season on the injured list with right elbow inflammation that kept him off the Blue Jays’ postseason roster. However, the injury should not keep Berrios from being a full participant in Spring Training next March.

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Several media outlets expect the Jays to put him on the trade market, especially after opening the checkbook and signing free agent starting pitchers Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to big-money contracts.

The one caveat that makes the Padres the ideal trade partner is that Berrios has an opt-out clause in his contract at the conclusion of the 2026 season. However, it is unclear how much salary (Berrios owed $18 million) the Friars are willing to absorb in a potential trade.

A possible reunion with Gore​

Gore could be a more logical choice for the Padres, as he is under team control for another two seasons. Being a Scott Boras client, Gore is expected to decline contract extension talks and instead explore free agency following his option year. His projected 2026 salary is $4.7 million. It should not severely impact the Friars’ payroll for next season.

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No other starter was more dominant than Gore in the first half of last season. He threw to a 3.02 ERA, as his first-half strikeout rate (30.5%) was outstanding. Unfortunately, Gore physically broke down after the All-Star break. He had two stints on the IL with left shoulder inflammation and an ankle impingement. Injuries limited his success, as Gore’s ERA jumped to 4.17 by season’s end.

Who could the Friars include in a potential deal​

The Padres have several candidates who could be a part of a potential trade. The first name that comes to mind is Luis Campusano, who might need a change of scenery to reach his full potential. For whatever reason, Campusano has struggled at the major league level. He has a career .240 batting average and went 0-21 in 10 games last season. His trade value is declining. Preller needs to include him in any trade for starting pitching depth.

If the Friars have an opportunity to acquire a proven No.1 starter, then the team’s top prospect, Ethan Salas, is likely included in any deal. He has been somewhat of a disappointment since signing a $5.6 million contract with the Padres in 2023. Injuries and lack of production at the plate (.221 career batting average) have slowed his progression through the minor league system.

Preller does have a propensity to deal away his top prospects (Max Fried and Leodalis De Vries) if the right player becomes available. But to trade away Salas, he must acquire a starting pitcher who proves his worth from Opening Day through the postseason.

Success demands risks to be taken. Preller must identify genuine trade opportunities from market noise. Acquiring the right starter will determine if the Padres are true contenders or just pretenders.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...fers-padres-several-starting-pitching-options

 

[San Diego Padres]

Multiple Padres prospects in Winter Leagues

The international baseball winter leagues have been in progress since shortly after the MLB season ended. Although no San Diego Padres major league players are currently playing with any of the teams, multiple Padres minor league players are active.

Dominican Republic Winter League

Catcher/DH Luis Campusano, who recently signed a one-year contract with the organization, is playing in the Dominican Republic. Catcher Rudolfo Duran, right-handed reliever Francis Pena and recently signed utility player Pablo Reyes are also playing in the DR leagues.

Campusano is with Tigres de Licey and has played in 13 games with 50 at-bats. He has a .200/.293/.340 batting line with two home runs and eight RBI.

Duran is with Estrellas Orienteles. He has played in 19 games and 52 at-bats with a .346/.370/.596 line with a .967 OPS. That includes three homer runs, two doubles and seven RBI.

Reyes is with the Gigantes de Cabao for 19 games and 59 at-bats. He is hitting .136/.164/.220 with a .384 OPS. He has two doubles and a homer with one RBI.

Pena has appeared in three games and 2.1 innings for Leones del Escogido with a 3.86 ERA with one strikeout and no walks.

Mexican Winter League

Outfielder Tirso Ornelas, infielder Marcos Castañon, RHP Victor Lizarraga and RHP Cole Paplham are all with Mexican winter league teams.

Ornelas is playing for Charros de Jalisco and has appeared in 14 games and 50 at-bats with a .220/.286/.280 line and .566 OPS. He has hit theee doubles and has four RBI with two stolen bases.

Lizarraga is with Jaguares de Nayarit with 33.1 innings pitched over seven games with a 2.43 ERA and a 3-0 record as a stater. He has 24 strikeouts and 14 walks.

Paplham, also with Jaguares, has pitched in 15 games with 16 innings and a 3.94 ERA with nine strikeouts and seven walks.

Castañon, also with Jaguares, has 69 at-bats in 18 games with a .203/.257/.348 line and .605 OPS. He has four doubles, two homers and 13 RBI with a stolen base. He also has 18 strikeouts to four walks.

Venezuela Winter League

RHP Igor Gil and RHP Eiker Huizi are playing in the Venezuelan winter leagues.

Gil is with Tiburones de La Guaira with only one appearance, allowing three runs, which gives him a ERA of 81.00

Huizi has 6.1 innings over eight games with Tigers de Aragua with a 7.11 ERA with five strikeouts and four walks.

Puerto Rican Winter League

RHP Josh Mallitz is the only player in Puerto Rico with the Senadores de San Juan. He has 12.2 innings over nine games with a 1.42 ERA with 11 strikeouts and seven walks.

With 2026 being a World Baseball Classic season, there is a good chance multiple roster changes could occur over the second half of the winter league season. Many teams send players for short stints in winter ball for specific purposes. This being a WBC tournament season, it is possible no major league players for the Padres will appear in winter league action.

Both Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. have played for the Dominican Republic in past WBC tournaments and that could be the case again this year. If so, it is unlikely Tatis Jr. will play in the DR this winter.

Gaslamp Ball will provide updates until the season ends.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/minors/51926/multiple-padres-prospects-in-winter-leagues

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey Results: Fans do not expect much from A.J. Preller, San Diego at MLB Winter Meetings

The Friar Faithful have lived this experience before.

The San Diego Padres and their general manager and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller are heading into MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla. with little financial flexibility and an unknown list of targets to fill the roster. Fans can only speculate about how Preller and the front office will stretch what few dollars the organization has or is willing to spend to build their team for 2026.

Of course, trades are an option, but that is only if the San Diego system has something to offer the other 29 teams in the league. There is talent in the Padres system, the problem is that most of that talent is years removed from reaching the major leagues.

With those factors in mind, readers of Gaslamp Ball have proclaimed overwhelmingly, they do not expect much to happen over the Winter Meetings. Less than a quarter of those who participated in the Padres Reacts Survey believe the Padres will make any significant moves this week, especially in terms of a big-name signing.

Whether or not that is the case, no one knows, at least no one outside the walls of the San Diego executive offices, but thanks to MLB Network we will all be able to sit back and watch it unfold in real time.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...-a-j-preller-san-diego-at-mlb-winter-meetings

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Winter Meetings are approaching, young players in the Padres organization are trying to make a name for themselves

The offseason has not brought much news or much positive news with regard to the San Diego Padres. That has not stopped multiple players from the lower levels of the organization from playing in the various winter leagues to improve their skills. Luis Campusano went 0-for-21 last year at the MLB level so his time in the winter leagues could be beneficial if he has any chance to make the Padres roster in 2026.

Padres News:

• Thomas Conroy looks at what San Diego could find on the trade market if the starting pitching free agent market proves to be too costly. Based on some of the early signings and projected numbers on future signings, trades may be the only way Padres General Manager and President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller can fill out his rotation.

• Every team has needs, especially at this time of year on the baseball calendar. MLB.com has compiled a least of each team’s biggest need as the MLB Winter Meetings approach.

Baseball News:

• The reported deal between free agent outfielder Cedric Mullins and the Tampa Bay Rays made headlines last week, but the team made the deal official with an announcement Saturday.

• The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of if not the only team in MLB with little or no needs. That will not stop them from trying to keep their two-time World Series winning team together. It was reported Saturday the team would like to bring back Enrique “Kike” Hernandez next season.

• The Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners reached a trade agreement that sent Jose Ferrer from Washington to Seattle for Harry Ford.

• Social media reports indicated free agent pitcher Zac Gallen and the Chicago Cubs agreed to a deal that would bring him to the Northside. However, those reports were quickly refuted and changed to state the Cubs were hopeful they could add the starter to their rotation. The Cubs are one of many teams interested in adding Gallen this offseason.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...tion-are-trying-to-make-a-name-for-themselves

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: A.J. Preller, the Padres are on the clock

Owners, general managers and front office personnel from all 30 MLB teams reported to Orlando, Fla. for the MLB Winter Meetings, which will be in full swing today. It has become commonplace to see some of the big-name free agents agree to new contracts or teams lineup on a trade that shuffles their respective lineups as they prepare for the upcoming season. Fans of the San Diego Padres were asked if they expected president of baseball operation and general manager A.J. Preller to make a significant move this week and the answer was overwhelmingly, “no.” Maybe he will surprise the Friar Faithful, but it seems unlikely.

Padres News:

USA Today sports columnist Bob Nightengale is reporting the Padres are aggressively shopping infielder Jake Cronenworth to the 29 other MLB teams citing the need to offload salary in order to address pitching vacancies.

Baseball News:

• Jim Callis, Sam Dykstra and Jonathan Mayo came together to write a piece about recent successes of teams in the Rule 5 Draft. The writers identified one success story from each of the 30 MLB teams. Considering the current pitching predicament for San Diego – reading this may hurt a little.

• With the Winter Meeting taking place this week, the rumor mill is churning. There are reports the San Francisco Giants have interest in outfielder Harrison Bader, the Boston Red Sox have interest in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for second baseman Ketel Marte and that the Pittsburgh Pirates have extended a contract offer to free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber. Of course, none of this means anything until contracts are signed or trade agreements have been reached, but the next few days will have no shortage of speculation and intrigue.

• If the trade with Arizona does not come to fruition for Boston, there are reports they would have interest in free-agent infielder Bo Bichette. Speculation all offseason has been that the Toronto Blue Jays will bring him back to make a run at a return to the World Series, but the longer he is available the more time teams have to try to convince him to take his talents elsewhere.

• Longtime Giants second baseman Jeff Kent can now call himself a Hall of Famer. He was the only player selected from the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot with names like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens coming up short, yet again.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...diego-a-j-preller-the-padres-are-on-the-clock

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, David Morgan staying in ‘pen according to Craig Stammen, A.J. Preller

The first decision regarding the San Diego Padres came with the start of MLB Winter Meetings. Manager Craig Stammen and president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller stated the San Diego bullpen will remain intact. There have been questions about Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and possibly David Morgan moving from the ‘pen to the starting rotation due to the significant need for starting pitching. Stammen and Preller confirmed none of the three will be converted to starters – for now.

Padres News:

• San Diego signed another reliever to an MLB contract the team announced Monday. Right-hander Daison Acosta will join Ty Adcock as another free-agent arm in an ever-growing bullpen. Acosta has spent eight seasons in the minor leagues with the New York Mets and Washington Nationals but has yet to make his MLB debut.

• Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune noted a Preller extension is still being discussed with current Padres chairman John Seidler and that the expectation is a deal will come to fruition at some point.

• According to John Seidler, in another story from the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee, San Diego expects to have a payroll similar to where it was for the 2025 season. He added the team is operating as it has the past several years.

• Desperate times call for desperate measures and by all accounts the Padres are desperate to clear some payroll in order to have the financial flexibility needed to address the holes on the roster. The was made more evident with an article from Dennis Lin of The Athletic, who reported San Diego will listen to offers for starter Nick Pivetta. Jake Cronenworth is also expected to be shopped in an effort to create some financial freedom, but no deals are eminent on either front.
• Stammen is finalizing his staff, adding three more coaches according to a report from Mark Polishuk from MLB Trade Rumors. Bob Henley, Ryan Goins and Kevin Plawecki are coming on as the third base coach, infield coach and catching coach, respectively.

Baseball News:

• The Detroit Tigers have made it known that no one on their roster is untouchable, and that includes 2025 AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

• Free agent first baseman Pete Alonso is expected to meet with the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox, Tuesday at the winter meetings. Both teams are expective to be active in free agency and both are looking to convince Alonso to don their jersey in 2026.

• It was reported the Red Sox have already had a video meeting with another big-name free agent, infielder Bo Bichette. It is unknown if Boston would sign both Alonso and Bichette, but it does appear the Rod Sox fully intend to add offense this offseason.

• Free agent starter Framber Valdez reportedly met with the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and Orioles. He is widely considered the best free agent starter available after Dylan Cease agreed to a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Giants, Mets and Orioles will surely have competition from other teams before Valdez makes his decision.

• The buzz around a possible trade for Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte started before the winter meetings and it has grown at the meetings with reports stating the trade interest has increased. Marte is one of a few notable players to garner trade interest with some of the others being Tampa Bay Rays starter Shane Baz, Washington Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore and shortstop C.J. Abrams. Will any or all of these players be moved is anyone’s guess. The conversation about a Baz trade may increase after it was reported the Rays agreed to a deal with free agent left-hander Steven Matz.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...in-pen-according-to-craig-stammen-a-j-preller

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Several questions surround the Padres organization, the upcoming Winter Meetings might provide some answers

The addition of Ty Adcock to the bullpen could mean several things for the San Diego Padres. It could be a sign the team is not going to rest on the success of the past and look to build on a strength. It could mean that Mason Miller or Adrian Morejon, perhaps both, will be given an opportunity to return to the starting rotation. It could also mean general manager is looking to improve his team through trades and he has a bevy of bullpen arms that could be enticing to other teams, and he may need to have players ready to step in to newly vacated roles. It seems inevitable that the Frair Faithful will get some answers with Winter Meetings taking place next week.

Padres News:

• AJ Cassavell of Padres.com provides his thoughts on some of the questions many San Diego fans have been asking. Is Mason Miller going to be a starter? Is a Michael King return possible? Is there any chance the Padres swing big and land Kyle Schwarber? There are other questions asked and answered, but these seem to be most commonly asked among the fanbase.

• Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune looks at the reliever prospects in the San Diego organization, and it should be no surprise to the Friar Faithful that he lists Bradgley Rodriguez as the top reliever prospect to watch heading into the 2026 season.

• There seems to be a lot of interest in free agent pitcher Michael King and rightfully so. It does appear that potential suitors are a bit weary of the nerve issue that caused him to miss time last season, and that is suppressing his market in terms of years and money. However, several teams have shown interest, to include the Padres, but no one team has emerged as the top candidate to land the right-hander.

Baseball News:

• Could the Miami Marlins, who have shown interest in adding a pitcher like King, look to deal their top pitchers this offseason? Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic have heard that Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera are drawing attention from teams around the league and could be available for the right price.

• Jim Bowden of The Athletic provided his Winter Meetings wish list, which includes free-agent signings and possible trades that he would like to see happen next week in Orlando, Fla. The one that may interest fans in San Diego is his trade idea of catcher Ethan Salas and right-handed pitchers Miguel Mendez, Humberto Cruz and Bradgley Rodriguez for starters Drew Rasmussen and Shane Baz to help the Padres address their rotation needs.
• Player evaluations are a science that many fans speculate about. MLB scouts, front offices and general managers have to take several factors into account before deciding to draft/sign a player or pursue a player in free agency. Eno Sarris and Chandler Rome of The Athletic provide insight into how those evaluations happen and how decisions are made.
• Former Padres prospect and one-time starter MacKenzie Gore, now with the Washington Nationals, is drawing trade interest from several teams. It has been reported that the young lefty is expected to be dealt in the coming days, and with so many teams in search of starting pitching the top suitor is anyone’s guess.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...ng-winter-meetings-might-provide-some-answers

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres manager Craig Stammen and the Winter Meetings

Craig Stammen

Newly hired San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen made his debut at the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings on Monday. He had his general media availability as well as doing interviews on MLB Network, the MLB Sirius XM station as well as talking with Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan (the Padres flagship station).

Stammen opened his availability with a general media presser where he answered questions regarding pitching, offseason activity as well as how to deal with Spring Training with the WBC looming.

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The Winter Meeting officially began Sunday with the Hall of Fame announcement, with Jeff Kent the only player named to the Hall by the Contemporary Era Committee.

Monday was the first full day of meetings with all teams involved with discussions as well as giving media availability to MLB Network and other media outlets.

General media press conference

Craig Stammer’s initial presser brought clarity to the issue of transitioning bullpen arms to the rotation by stating that the organization has held talks with Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon and they are inclined to keep both in the bullpen for the time being. Stammen suggested that the players also preferred staying in the bullpen.

Both Stammen and president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, referred to the bullpen being a team strength and their unwillingness to weaken their biggest strength. Both Miller and Morejon have had injury issues while starting and have been healthy as relievers. That could also be a big part of the present decision.

It was also mentioned that David Morgan will stay in the bullpen for the 2026 season. Stammen referred to the need for Morgan to have a good second season with continued growth and success before making any changes to his role.

Trip to the Dominican Republic

Stammen referred to his recent trip to the Dominican to visit Fernando Tatis, Jr., Ramón Laureano, Randy Vasquez and Wandy Peralta. He hit with Tatis, and they had dinner prepared by Tatis’ chef. His visit also included some time with Vasquez, stating that the right-hander has an aggressive workout routine this offseason and is very excited for 2026. The Padres team that toured the country also visited the Padres development facility and watched Luis Campusano play for Tigres de Licey.

WBC and Spring Training

The WBC will take place during March of 2026, while Spring Training is taking place. The Padres figure to lose multiple players to WBC teams at the beginning of March. Stammen referred specifically to Manny Machado and Tatis leaving to play with the Dominican team. He said he was hopeful that other players will step up and take over leadership roles during the spring and specifically mentioned Jackson Merrill as a player he feels is ready to take on more responsibility.

In the past, Machado and Tatis have played for the DR and Xander Bogaerts has been with the Netherlands team. Due to his injury, Yu Darvish will not be playing for Japan this year and should be with the Padres.

Yu Darvish

Asked by a media member what he expected from Darvish for 2026, Stammen passed along the close relationship Darvish has with Randy Vasquez and he expects that will continue during this season. He believes Darvish will be a strong mentor for the entire pitching staff while rehabbing from his UCL surgery.

MLB Network

During his interview on the TV side, Stammen described his role with the team as a special assistant. He had player development responsibilities with pitchers, worked closely with the minor league teams to mentor their pitchers and did on-field coaching with both major and minor league players. After working in uniform with pitchers, he would join Preller in his box to watch the game and discuss multiple aspects as the game progressed.

He believes as a recent player he will have a unique viewpoint of the challenges the players deal with and will have better communication as a result. He feels this should give him a better grasp of the mental side of what the players are going through during the season.

A.J. Preller with Sammy Levitt

97.3 FM correspondent, Sam Levitt, visited Preller in his suite at the Winter Meetings. Preller reiterated the present plan to keep Miller, Morejon and Morgan in the bullpen. He likes the strength of the bullpen. As many Padres fans are aware, Preller listens to all offers. No player seems to be untouchable at this point. He likes to explore how other organizations value the Padres players as well as begin laying the groundwork for future trades or free agent signings.

Preller specifically mentioned their ability to scout and sign both Jeremiah Estrada and Eduarniel Nunez as players that other teams undervalued and the Padres development team spotted and helped sign. This introduced the topic of the signing of Ty Adcock and Daison Acosta to major league deals despite both having all or mostly minor league experience.

Preller acknowledged that those two and Kyle Hart were depth signs that allows them to add strength to strength with the bullpen.

Levitt speaks with Stammen

Sam Levitt also had a one-on-one interview with Stammen after his media availability ended. They discussed the health of Fernando Tatis, Jr. and how he is training normally after having other offseasons where he was recovering from injury and not able to build up normally. He expects more from Tatis this season has a result. He highlighted being impressed with Randy Vasquez’s work and motivation to improve for 2026.

He discussed building team chemistry during Spring Training, despite missing players to the WBC for part of that time. He emphasized that communication will be an emphasis for the players in camp and the players returning from the WBC will be able to step into an already established system.

Stammen briefly reviewed the qualities of the newly hired hitting and bench coaches. He highlighted that both are well known to him and Randy Knorr has extensive experience in baseball, including many years as a bench coach. Hitting coach Steven Souza is recently active as a player and has a grasp of the challenges faced by hitters in the current MLB environment.

It seems that recent experience is being emphasized for the hitting coach versus long-time coaching experience. The bench coach is a different situation with Knorr being well known to Stammen but also very experienced.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...manager-craig-stammen-and-the-winter-meetings

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres confirm Mason Miller to remain in bullpen in 2026

The Friar Faithful were not surprised that San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen unofficially named Mason Miller as the team’s closer for the 2026 season.

Typically, news of this nature would not even register on your social media feeds. However, Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller said earlier in the offseason that Miller could be converted into a starter because his arm is that electric. But keeping him in the ‘pen is not a bad thing.

Miller is the logical choice to replace Suarez​

Stammen’s revelation was not meant to foreshadow potential offseason moves; the Friars’ urgent need for starting pitching is as great as any team in the majors. But not at the price of dismantling the back end of the bullpen.

Last summer’s trade for Miller solidified the San Diego ‘pen for the stretch run to the postseason. Now, he replaces Robert Suarez as the team’s closer. Tough act to follow, as Suarez posted a 4-6 record with 40 saves and a 2.97 ERA in 70 appearances.

After opting out of his contract, the Friars never considered re-signing him at the current market price for closers. Their biggest concern was Suarez’s 17 blown saves in 94 save opportunities during his four-year major league career. Failure to close out games may cost him money this winter.

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Upon his arrival in San Diego, Miller has been outstanding, recording a 0.77 ERA in 22 appearances. Miller struck out 45 batters in 23.1 innings pitched. By season’s end, the San Diego ‘pen was one of the best in baseball. Collectively, the group ended 2025 with a 3.02 ERA, which led the majors.

Latest trend: Coverting relievers into starters​

The latest trend in baseball is converting relievers into starters, as several teams have achieved success. It helps to keep payroll intact, as most of the candidates are under team control for multiple seasons. Often, they claim their fortune on the open market.

Miller began his professional career as a starting pitcher in the Athletics’ farm system. He suffered a UCL injury that forced the organization to move him to the ‘pen. It did not take Miller long to become one of the best closers in baseball.

The Friars had great success in transitioning Seth Lugo and Michael King from set-up relievers to top-flight starting pitchers. It seemed logical that Miller was a terrific candidate to make the same transition in 2026. But not at the expense of weakening the bullpen.

The club controls him for four more seasons, so the threat of an arm injury is not worth the risk. It makes sense for Preller to pursue other options to fill out the starting rotation.

Operating under a tight payroll budget, the Padres are working hard to strengthen their roster. The attraction of filling a rotation spot with an in-house candidate is enticing, but it could weaken a strength, the pitching staff, from last season’s team.

They cannot afford a vacancy in the ninth inning. Keeping Miller in the ‘pen offers a proven commodity to close out games.

Now, the Friars will have to explore the trade and free agent market to acquire starting pitching. Hopefully, payroll restrictions will not limit their choices.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...irm-mason-miller-to-remain-in-bullpen-in-2026

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres still in need of pitching, but belief is they will remain active throughout the winter

MLB Winter Meetings were intriguing for baseball fans, but left fans of the San Diego Padres wanting more. There was some clarity about the bullpen and payroll, but how general manager A.J. Preller is going to address all the needs on the San Diego roster remains in question. It does seem that trades will be the most likely method.

If Preller is able to consummate one or more trades, perhaps that will create some financial room for the Padres to pursue starting pitching on the free agent market. Other than Dylan Cease, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, all the top free agent pitchers remain available.

Gaslamp Ball asked its readers to make a choice. If given the chance, would the Friar Faithful add Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Michael King, Zac Gallen or another arm? Admittedly, an opportunity to sign one of these pitchers is a longshot, but its never zero.

Padres News:

• MLB announced the Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks will play the Mexico City Series in 2026. The series will consist of two games and will take place April 25 and 26 at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu Beisbol.
• With news that Mason Miller will remain in the San Diego bullpen and not be converted to a starter, Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball looks at the impact that decision can have on the 2026 season.
• The second day of winter meetings was largely filled with interviews and comments from Padres general manager A.J. Preller. Granted, he has the ability to say a lot without saying much at all, but he reaffirmed what manager Craig Stammen said the previous day, the bullpen will remain intact.
• Preller was asked many times in various ways of star right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was untouchable and he would never give a direct answer to the question. AJ Cassavell of Padres.com reported Preller said Wednesday, “He’s somebody that we’re not talking about.” Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported teams have called about Tatis and continue to do so, but San Diego has no desire to trade him. Surely the fanbases in New York and Boston will be sad to see this report, but it should put an end to the speculation.
• Cassavell added another report where he outlines the needs of the Padres, and reminds fans that with Preller you can always expect something. Cassavell said San Diego will continue to work throughout the winter despite not making any significant moves during the meetings and Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune has similar expectations.

Baseball News:

• Pete Alonso found his home for the next five seasons, agreeing to a $155 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Alonso was the second former New York Mets player to leave Queens for another team in two days.
• Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski and the Atlanta Braves agreed to a two-year, $23 million deal.
• The Rule 5 Draft took place and 13 players were selected. The Padres did not make a selection and no minor leaguers from the San Diego system were selected.
• The top free agent position player available, Kyle Tucker, is drawing interest from the New York Mets and New York Yankees. There are other clubs who have shown interest, but a potential landing spot remains in question.
• Tucker is not the only free agent drawing interest from the Yankees. New York is reportedly remaining engaged with Cody Bellinger and considering re-signing him to keep him in pinstripes.
• Pitcher Freddy Peralta is a Milwaukee Brewer. Whether or not he remains a Brewer is unknown. The Yankees, Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants have all shown a willingness to trade for the right-hander.
• One-time Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo is looking to make a return to MLB, this time as a pitcher. Reportedly several teams have shown interest in adding him for that position.
• MLB announcer Joe Buck will join his father in the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the 2026 Ford C. Frick Award Winner.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...they-will-remain-active-throughout-the-winter

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres Reacts Survey: Winter Meetings come to a close with pitching market still wide open

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

MLB Winter Meetings ended Wednesday without any of the top free agent starters signing contracts. Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Michael King and Zac Gallen and others remain available to all 30 MLB teams. Valdez, Suarez, King and Gallen could take as long as they need to make a deal with a team. Tatsuya Imai, who is the top international free agent pitcher has until Jan. 2 to make his decision on his MLB home.

Dylan Cease set the market for proven MLB starters with his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, agreeing to a seven-year, $210 million deal. Cease attended the winter meetings with his agent Scott Boras and was officially introduced as a Blue Jay.

The San Diego Padres are in desperate need of starting pitching and that is evident to all of baseball. Throughout the winter meetings the Padres were included in trade rumors, but were rarely mentioned on the free agent front, especially when it came to the top pitchers. However, there was a report that San Diego had interest in Imai, but he is an unknown in MLB.

The lack of conversation involving the Padres and free agents surely stems from the reported financial constraints that have been the topic of discussion surrounding the team each of the past two offseasons. It also provides insight as to why San Diego is reportedly extremely active in trade conversations.

If one or more of the trades come to fruition and somehow San Diego is able to create financial flexibility, maybe they will make a run at Valdez, Suarez, King or Gallen – if they are still available at that time. After all, the Padres waited until Spring Training was about to start before signing their 2025 ace Nick Pivetta. Given those choices, which starter would you like to see San Diego add to the 2026 rotation?

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/gaslamp...-a-close-with-pitching-market-still-wide-open

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres, Mets could be working to make a trade, but that does not mean Francisco Lindor is coming to San Diego

Rumors of a potential trade between the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets have been swirling since the MLB Winter Meetings. Steven Woods from Ben & Woods on 97.3 The Fan speculated that a package headlined by closer Mason Miller from San Diego could bring a return from New York that included shortstop Francisco Lindor. Sounds like a pipe dream for sure, but social media has picked up where Woods left off and the mock trades have only increased the speculation.

All of this speculation has followed a report by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune that Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller was working on many fronts and that a trade that would rival the Juan Soto trade prior to the 2024 season could happen. It did not happen at the winter meetings, but the thought is Preller will continue to push to make deals throughout the winter.

Former San Diego closer Robert Suarez signed a deal with the Atlanta Braves, Thursday and that has only breathed new life into the possibility of a Miller trade. Preller has stated that he is not looking to trade Miller or any of the other top arms in his bullpen, but he has also said in previous interviews that he will listen on anyone.

Padres News:

• In a somewhat curious move, the Padres are reportedly interested in making a deal with the Colorado Rockies to acquire center fielder Brenton Doyle. San Diego signed Jackson Merrill to a long-term contract prior to the 2025 season, and he is currently manning center field for the Friars. However, the interest in Doyle may have something to do with rumors that the Padres have received trade interest about their left fielder, Ramon Laureano, who came to San Diego at the trade deadline last season after a trade with the Baltimore Orioles.

Baseball News:

• Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger are the two big-name position players remaining unsigned. There is talk that Bellinger may not sign until Tucker in an effort to maximize his contract potential. Tucker has been sought after by many MLB teams and for much of the offseason speculation has been that he will sign with the Toronto Blue Jays. After Pete Alonso left the New York Mets to sign with the Baltimore Orioles, Tucker to New York makes some sense. The Los Angeles Dodgers have also reportedly expressed interest in Tucker, but do not want to commit to an extended contact. There are six teams that are thought to be the favorites to land Tucker and Travis Sawchik of MLB.com ranks the New York Yankees, the Mets, the San Francisco Giants, Blue Jays, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies in order of best fit for the free agent outfielder.
• With all the negative press that has befallen the Mets over the past few days, a major move might salvage their offseason. There is speculation that New York could try to make a trade for 2025 American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. The Detroit Tigers have said they will listen to offers for their ace pitcher but were not inclined to trade him. The belief is that stance has changed and it is likely that Skubal is moved at some point in the offseason or at the trade deadline.
• The Kansas City Royals, who were reportedly willing to trade some of their pitchers, addressed their defense with the addition of outfielder Lane Thomas, who agreed to a one-year deal with the club.
• The Milwaukee Brewers also added to their outfield, agreeing to a deal with Akil Baddoo on a one-year deal.
• Pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. and the Athletics have agreed to a one-year deal and the Cleveland Guardians have also agreed to a deal with reliever Colin Holderman on a one-year deal.
• The Boston Red Sox missed out on Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso and the belief is they are still looking to add an impact bat. There are some options for the Red Sox and one of those options may be to bring back third baseman Alex Bregman, who played in Boston in 2025 and opted out of his deal after the season to become a free agent.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...-mean-francisco-lindor-is-coming-to-san-diego

 

[San Diego Padres]

Fernando Tatis Jr. is not being traded

The final day of the MLB Winter Meetings remained quiet for A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres, at least on the trade and free agent signing front. Preller had his last day of media availability and he made his strongest statement of the meetings while discussing the swirling rumors concerning trading Fernando Tatis Jr.

When asked by MLB Network if Tatis Jr. was untouchable, Preller replied:

“He’s somebody we’re not talking about, however you want to view that. If you want to say that’s untouchable, you can say that.”

Has that stopped teams from asking about Tatis? Preller: “No.”

Here is the interview, in which Preller is as forceful as I have heard him in an interview regarding trading players on the roster. According to other rumors circulated during the meetings, both Jake Cronenworth and Nick Pivetta were discussed in trade talks. If the prevailing opinions are true and the Padres’ needs have to be covered with a very limited payroll, dealing from the current roster might be the only option. Clearing payroll while acquiring talent could also allow the organization to sign a free agent or two.

Padres go to Mexico City again

It was announced by MLB that the Padres will again travel to Mexico City in 2026 for a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. April 25 and April 26 will be home games for the Dbacks and will again be played in the Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú. In their previous trip to Mexico City, in 2023, the Padres swept the Giants by scores of 16-11 and 6-4, hitting a combined 15 home runs in the stadium that sits above 7,000 feet in elevation. Tickets will go on sale on Jan. 19 via Ticketmaster.

Top Preller lieutenant retires

Logan White, one of A.J. Preller’s most trusted lieutenants and the head of player development, is retiring. He won the West Coast Scout of the Year Award and announced his retirement after the award. He has 40-plus years of time in baseball, 10 years as part of Preller’s scouting group.

Preller updates status of Ethan Salas

In a conversation with Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan, Preller updated the status of Padres catching prospect Ethan Salas.

After being very aggressive with challenging the 19-year-old prospect, the Padres are now being very conservative with managing his work. Salas missed most of the 2025 season after suffering a stress reaction in his lower back in April. He has not played in a game since and was rehabbing at the Arizona complex with the aim to get him into the Fall League or Winter Leagues. Neither of those things happened and it seems we will not see Salas until February. Hopefully, Salas is truly past his injury and can pick up his development with a healthy 2026.

Rule 5 draft results

The Padres made no selections during the major or minor league phases of the Rule 5 draft. The organization lost two players in the Triple-A round. The Chicago Cubs selected third baseman Devin Ortiz in the third round and the Washington Nationals selected RHP Eiker Huizi in the fifth round.

Huizi is currently playing in Winter ball and is 25 years old. Ortiz, 26, played in Double-A San Antonio this past season. None of the Padres top 30 prospects that went unprotected were lost in the draft.

“Sooner rather than later”

Although the Padres made no major moves during the meetings, Preller told Sammy Levitt that there was progress made on several fronts and he hopes to have some things accomplished “sooner rather than later” in regards to adding to the team’s starting rotation depth.

Where are the Padres at in terms of building out their starting rotation? pic.twitter.com/rWh3WTRCGJ

— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) December 10, 2025

Albert Pujols will manage Machado and Tatis Jr.

Although Albert Pujols did not win the manager job with the San Diego Padres, he will still be managing both Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. Pujols was officially announced as the manager for the World Baseball Classic Dominican Republic team during the Winter Meetings WBC media day. This will be Machado’s third time representing the Dominican Republic in the WBC. It will be Tatis Jr.’s first time representing his home country in the international tournament. They will be playing on the same roster as Juan Soto for the event, which takes place during MLB Spring Training, March 5 – March 17.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...y/52029/fernando-tatis-jr-is-not-being-traded

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Fernando Tatis Jr. is ‘untouchable,’ but that has not stopped teams from inquiring about his availability

The offseason often brings wild speculation about players and teams. For the San Diego Padres, the player most often brought up in rumor and speculation by fans and media alike is Fernando Tatis Jr. The two-time Platinum Glove winning right fielder is a cornerstone of the San Diego franchise. While some of the Friar Faithful will complain about a lack of production with regard to his power numbers, he is still one of the top players in the game and that was proven not only with his play on defense, but also with his eighth-place finish in the 2025 National League MVP voting. It is understandable that many teams around the league would have interest in Tatis Jr. and it is even more understandable that their respective fanbases would dream on adding a player of his caliber to their roster. Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller all but stated Tatis Jr. is not up for discussion.

Padres News:

• Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune takes a closer look at Padres Manager Craig Stammen and what makes him the right person to lead the club in San Diego.

Baseball News:

• New Baltimore Orioles slugger Pete Alonso was introduced to Birdland, Friday.
• The Texas Rangers added catcher Danny Jansen on a two-year deal and also agreed to a deals with relievers Tyler Alexander and Alexis Diaz.
• Reliever Tyler Rogers, who was a target of the New York Mets, agreed to a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays in yet another offseason acquisition.
• The Blue Jays made another move, agreeing to a trade with the Detroit Tigers for Chase Lee in exchange for Johan Simon.
• Manny Randhawa of MLB.com looks at 13 of the remaining power options available this offseason after Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso agreed to their free agent deals.

• The Kansas City Royals agreed to a five-year contract extension with third baseman Maikel Garcia, which pairs him with Bobby Witt Jr. to lock down the left side of the infield for years to come.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/san-die...d-teams-from-inquiring-about-his-availability