Padres offseason primer: Front office set to get back to work as World Series ends

The Dodgers, as Dave Roberts trolled after the NLCS, got four more wins in the World Series to “really ruin baseball.” It’s a storyline to follow as MLB and the player’s union barrel toward what could be contentious talks after the current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2026 season.

The chief beef?

The seemingly widening gap between the have-nots and big-market teams that can outspend their deficiencies without breaking a sweat. The Padres, for example, had the league take over their broadcasts after Diamond Sports Group filed for bankruptcy in 2023, while the Dodgers get $334 million every year from Spectrum.

Still, the Padres bounced the Dodgers from the NLDS in 2022, had them on the ropes in that round in 2024 and was within striking distance of an injury-depleted team in the division throughout 2025.

Simply put, the Padres have repeatedly shown they can compete.

Now it’s time to chart the next path forward.

A matter of record

2025 finish: 90-72, 2nd in NL West, lost in NL Wild Card Series

Manager: TBD

Leading baseball ops: A.J. Preller, president of baseball operations and general manager (12th season, four playoff trips)

What’s next

• Hire a manager. That decision could come as soon as this week, leaving the next skipper to assemble a coaching staff. Future Hall-of-Famer Albert Pujols, current pitching coach Ruben Niebla and former Padres catcher Nick Hundley are the known finalists, but A.J. Preller often zags when we expect a zig. Speaking of Preller, CEO Erik Greupner has said this offseason that he expects his baseball ops chief to lead the department beyond 2026, so an extension seems to be coming to make sure Preller is not managing the organization’s assets as a lame-duck GM.
• The Padres need power. With Ryan O’Hearn among the team’s departing free agents, the Padres will be looking for avenues to become a more dangerous team. Most of the spots on the team are set, but a first baseman/DH to pair with the resurgent Gavin Sheets should be on the shopping list. The team will also be looking to get more out of the current roster as Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado endured long power outages, Jackson Merrill waded through an injury-plagued year and catcher Luis Campusano — who led the PCL with a 1.036 OPS and yet did not get a hit during sporadic stints in the majors this year — headlines the minor league assets that have not added value in the majors.
• Joe Musgrove should return from Tommy John surgery to boost a rotation that looks to lose to both Dylan Cease and Michael King to free agency and seemed to have the 39-year-old Yu Darvish considering his future heading into the offseason. RHP Nick Pivetta figures to be the unquestioned No. 1 starter after he was signed to a creative contract as spring training opened a year ago. The Padres have a track record of hitting on such bets (King, Seth Lugo, for example), so expect them to add lottery tickets alongside the likes of Randy Vásquez, JP Sears and knuckleballer Matt Waldron. The team has not ruled out transitioning RHP Mason Miller and/or LHP Adrián Morejón back to the rotation, but that would also open gaping holes in the back of a bullpen that could see RHP Robert Suarez opt out and might not have Jason Adam (quad) ready at the start of the season.

Decisions, decisions

A look at the options that will have to be exercised or declined early this offseason:

• RHP Robert Suarez: His salary will drop from $10 million to $8 million if he opts in; Suarez also has an $8 million player option after the 2026 season.
• OF Ramón Laureano: The Padres are expected to exercise the $6.5 million team option on the 31-year-old outfielder. He had an .812 OPS after the trade from Baltimore and was sorely missed when a broken finger in the last weekend of the season forced him from the playoffs.
• LHP Wandy Peralta: He has a $4.45 million player option this season and next season. Peralta lowered his ERA from 3.99 in 38⅓ innings last year to 3.14 over 71⅔ innings this year.
• C Elias Díaz: He’ll receive a $2 million buyout if both parties to not exercise a $7 million mutual option, a significant raise on last year’s $1.5 million salary.
• LHP Kyle Hart: He’ll be owed a $500,000 buyout if a $5 million team option is not exercised.

Outgoing free agents

• RHP Michael King: With King declining his half of a $15 million mutual option on Sunday, he’s owed a $3.75 million buyout following an injury-riddled season. The Padres could still extend a $22.02 million qualifying offer.
• 1B Luis Arraez: The three-time batting champ hit a career-low .292 and reached base at a .327 clip, also a career low and well below his career rate (.363). He made $14 million in 2025.
• RHP Dylan Cease: His 4.55 ERA was his second-highest over a full season, although Cease exits San Diego on a positive note after striking out five over 3⅔ shutout innings in his postseason start. The 29-year-old made $13.75 million in 2025.
• 1B Ryan O’Hearn: The 32-year-old hit .276/.350/.387 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 50 games after the trade from Baltimore to San Diego. He was making $8 million this year.
• INF Jose Iglesias: The 35-year-old utility man had a career-worst .592 OPS over 112 games. He made $3 million in 2025 and will have to serve a one-game suspension, stemming from his involvement with an altercation with umpires after the Padres’ final playoff loss, upon joining a team in 2026.
• LHP Nestor Cortes: He made just eight starts this year (6.29 ERA) — two for the Brewers and six with the Padres before biceps tendonitis sent him to the IL. He had surgery after the season. The 30-year-old earned $7.6 million this year.
• C Martín Maldonado: He had a .572 OPS in 64 games. He was released after the trade deadline but re-signed a minor league deal and was added to the postseason roster after Elias Díaz’s oblique injury. He announced his retirement after the season.

Eligible for salary arbitration

Players are eligible for arbitration after reaching three years of service time and reach free agency after six years in the majors; arbitration is also offered to players between two and three years of service time who rank in the top 22% of their class in service time (MLBTradeRumors.com’s estimates are in parentheses):

• 5-plus years: RHP Jason Adam ($6.8 million), LHP Adrián Morejón ($3.6 million)
• 4-plus years: OF Gavin Sheets ($4.3 million)
• 3-plus years: LHP JP Sears ($3.5 million), C Luis Campusano ($1 million)
• 2-plus years: RHP Mason Miller ($3.4 million), C Freddy Fermin ($1.8 million)

Financial commitments

A look at the guaranteed contracts on the books over the next three seasons:

• 2026 ($143.3 million): SS Xander Bogaerts ($25 million) will be the team’s highest-paid player, while 3B Manny Machado’s salary jumps from $13 million to $21 million. Both OF Fernando Tatis Jr. and RHP Joe Musgrove will make $20 million, RHP Nick Pivetta’s salary will jump to $19 million and RHP Yu Darvish will make $16 million. Other notables under guaranteed contracts include 2B Jake Cronenworth ($12 million), LHP Yuki Matsui ($5.75 million) and OF Jackson Merrill ($4 million) in the first official year of the extension he signed last year. 1B Eric Hosmer’s contract is finally off the books, but the Padres will likely owe buyouts to RHP Michael King ($3.75 million), C Elias Díaz ($2 million) and LHP Kyle Hart ($500,000) and will see their commitments rise if RHP Robert Suarez ($8 million) and LHP Wandy Peralta ($4.45 million) exercise player options. OF Ramón Laureano’s modest $6.5 million team option will also add to payroll when exercised.
• 2027 ($152.5 million): In his Age 34 season, Machado’s pay jumps to $40 million a year, which is what he’s due annually through 2033. Tatis also jumps to $25 million, tied with Bogaerts for the second-highest salary on the team, followed by Musgrove ($20M), Darvish ($15M) and Cronenworth ($12M). Merrill will make $9 million in the second year of his extension. Pivetta is a good bet to opt out of the $14 million he’s owed, while Matsui will make $6.5 million if he doesn’t opt out.
• 2028 ($128 million): With Musgrove coming off the books after 2027, the Padres only have commitments to six players. Machado ($40 million) leads the way, followed by Bogaerts and Tatis ($25 million each), Darvish ($15 million), Cronenworth ($12 million) and Merrill ($11 million). Pivetta would stand to add another $18 million to the books if he doesn’t opt out after 2026 or 2027 and Matsui would add another $7 million if he doesn’t opt out after 2026.

Notables eligible for the Rule 5 draft

High school-aged players signed in 2021 and college players signed in 2022 are eligible for the Rule 5 draft for the first time. Players signed before these years who are not on the 40-man roster are already eligible. A look at the notables whom the Padres will have to add to the 40-man roster this winter or risk losing them in December in the Rule 5 draft:

• Triple-A: INF Marcos Castañon, RHP Victor Lizarraga, RHP Francis Pena
• Double-A: RHP Garrett Hawkins, LHP Jagger Haynes, RHP Miguel Mendez, LHP Ryan Och, RHP Cole Paplham, 1B Romeo Sanabria

Key dates

• Day after end of the World Series: Eligible players become free agents
• Fifth day after the end of the World Series: Last day for clubs to make qualifying offers to eligible former players who became free agents
• Nov. 10-13: General managers meetings, Las Vegas
• Nov. 18-20: Owners meetings, New York
• Nov. 21: Last day for teams to offer 2026 contracts to unsigned players on their 40-man rosters
• Dec. 1-4: Major League Baseball Players Association executive board meeting, Scottsdale, Ariz.
• Dec. 7-10: Winter meetings, Orlando, Fla.
• Dec. 10: Rule 5 draft, Orlando, Fla.
• Dec. 15: 2025 international signing period closes
• Jan. 8: Salary arbitration figurers exchanged
• Jan. 15: 2026 international signing period opens
• Feb. 12: Voluntary report date for pitchers and catches
• March 26: Opening Day at Petco Park against the Detroit Tigers