With Luis Arraez having departed for San Francisco on a one-year deal yesterday, it’s now official that the Padres will have a new face at first base this year. As noted by Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Gavin Sheets figures to get the first crack at the position for San Diego this year.
Sheets, 29, turned in a decent performance in his first year with the club last season. Across 145 games, Sheets slashed .252/.317/.429 with a wRC+ of 111. Sheets’s overall production was dragged down by atrocious defensive numbers in the outfield, however, and it’s possible that a return to his natural position for the first time since he was a farmhand in the White Sox organization (where he was blocked by Jose Abreu, prompting his ill-fated move to the outfield) could help him recoup some defensive value and build on 2025’s solid offensive numbers to become a more well-rounded contributor.
While improved defense as a result of moving from the outfield to first base would be helpful, it won’t fix the hefty platoon split Sheets had last season. He posted a 119 wRC+ against righties while struggling to the tune of an 89 wRC+ against same-handed pitching. That difference was mostly seen in the power department; Sheets slugged 17 of his 19 homers against right-handers in 2025, as well as 37 of his 48 extra-base hits overall. Getting a right-handed complement to Sheets in the door would make plenty of sense, with Paul Goldschmidt, Ty France, and Rhys Hoskins among the right-handed first baseman still available on the market.
Such an addition could also factor into the DH mix, which has been unsettled by Sheets moving over to first. Offseason signing Sung Mun Song and youngster Will Wagner could both factor in at the position, though they’ll also get the opportunity to handle some first base duties behind Sheets as needed. Song’s versatility as an infielder capable of handling first, second, or third base creates an opportunity for the DH slot in the lineup to be used to rest regulars at other positions. Manny Machado, for example, could get days to rest at DH while Song fills in for him at the hot corner. Xander Bogaerts could also see time at DH, with Jake Cronenworth capable of giving him a breather at shortstop as needed.
Sanders writes that utilizing the DH to rest regulars is part of the plan for newly-minted manager Craig Stammen, but Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune also relays that president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has not ruled out the possibility of a meaningful addition to the DH mix. If the Padres were to sign a platoon partner for Sheets, that player could surely factor into the DH mix against right-handed hitters while spelling Sheets at first when a lefty is on the mound, thereby opening up DH to rest veterans like Machado and Bogaerts.
With all that said, it’s at least plausible that the most important signing the Padres make in the coming weeks is with Preller himself. While Preller acknowledged to reporters (including Heilbrunn) that he hopes to add players who will impact the roster in the coming weeks, as he has in previous years when making additions like Nick Pivetta and Dylan Cease late in the offseason calendar, he also noted that his focus on the roster has caused his own contract status to fall to the wayside.
As relayed by Heilbrunn, Preller told reporters that an extension ahead of his final season under contract not yet being in place is partially “on him,” and that while the sides have not yet reached a “win-win deal” he hopes to have something in place soon. That’s a different tone than was struck by reporting back in November, which suggested that Preller was in talks on a new contract with the club and that a deal could’ve been just days away. That obviously did not come to fruition, and now it seems at least plausible that Preller could enter 2026 without security about his future.
It’s an especially precarious position for San Diego’s front office leader to be in considering previous reports of behind-the-scenes tension between Preller and club CEO Erik Greupner. It will be worth watching Preller’s status until an extension is revealed, as he would surely be a coveted talent for rival franchises around the league if the Padres were to decide to let him go. Preller took over in San Diego in the final weeks of the 2014 season, and while the Padres have only made the playoffs four times under his leadership, the team’s body of work over the past six seasons represents the most successful stretch of baseball in franchise history.
Preller isnt done yet in FA. But letting a GM of his calibur go lame duck into his last year is crazy. Could a plan to sell the team possibly be complicating getting a deal done with Preller?
He was quoted in this article saying that not having an extension is partly on him and that he’s waiting for a win-win contract.
Saying Preller has been with the organization since 2014 and “only” made the playoffs 4 times kind of ignores the elephant in the room. Prior to Preller’s arrival they made the playoffs 5 times in 45 years.
But yeah, it would be beyond moronic to move on from the guy that has them in the midst of their most successful stretch in franchise history.
*They have made the playoffs 4 of the last 6 seasons, which is amazing considering they have only made it 9 times in 57 seasons.
*They have won 90 or more games in consecutive seasons for their first time in franchise history.
*They have made the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time in 20 years and only their second time ever.
*They have set 3 consecutive franchise attendance records and out drew every single team in 2025 beyond LAD.
I have zero faith they could replace Preller and be better off because of it.
throughout history, there have been other GMs with similar resumes that have been fired.
For most of those 57 years, almost no teams made the playoffs at all.
Preller’s 1st season with the team was 2015. People tend to forget that when Preller started with the Padres the owner at that time, Ron Fowler, asked him to “make a splash” by bringing in big name players for his first season in 2015.
When that didn’t work in terms of winning, they started a very public rebuild the following season that was supposed to culminate in playoff appearances starting in 2021 and beyond. They made the playoffs in 2020, a year ahead of schedule.
That splash that Fowler asked Preller to make did result in a big boost in attendance, so it worked at least in that sense.
“letting a GM of his calibur go lame duck into his last year is crazy”
I would respectfully disagree with your assessment. Preller was the beneficiary of having one of the greatest talent evaluators throughout his tenure in Logan White. White provided Preller with an almost unlimited supply of talent that, in my judgment, was mostly wasted in trades. White retired this offseason with the cupboard bare after Preller’s most recent trade deadline splurge.
Logan White is a scouting genius and I hope he enjoys retirement. However, Preller’s tenure in Texas as 2nd/3rd in command also had great farms. You also gotta give credit to Preller for poaching White in the first place and retaining him for 11 years.
“Earlier reports” aka Kevin Acee. If Kevin Acee reports something you have to know it will be 100% false.
Trading Trea Turner, the Soto trade,Munoz and Brash to Seattle. the Clevinger trade,the extentions of contracts that were not needed,also the overpay for Bogaerts. River Ryan to LA was another beauty.Let him walk.
This River Ryan, the guy who had Tommy John?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Ryan_(baseball)
Aside from defenses for Preller like “unprecedented success is unprecedented sucesss”, the guy he traded with to get Soto not having his job anymore, and all Preller’s moves, good ones and clunkers, being in service of going for it, I’m gonna say River Ryan is not a big deal.
The guy that does noy have a job anymore killed the Padres in that trade. The majority of starters in the league end up with Tommy John surgery River Ryan still a young pitcher with impressive tools. The player the Padres received long gone.
Fred, as of today the Padres are still up on that trade and they have several years more before the trade chain plays out. any additional trades of the players in volved in the original trade will extend that trade chain even further. None of the players traded away have become even a 4 WAR player other than Soto who already was. No superstars on the Nationals end in that group so far. Some good players no doubt, but none of them have made the Nationals a winner while the Padres have been in the playoffs 3 times since that trade including the NLCS.
He traded Brent Rooker after 6 abs and now with the A’s, he’s a power hitting starter.
But was a Rooker a star power hitter when he was with the Padres? No.
Do you know how the Padres even got Rooker?
Do you propose to have a crystal ball? What about getting Tatis?
And KC waived him just a few weeks later.
But was Tatis a star power hitter when he was a 17 yr kid in the White Sox farm system? No.
Theo – the point was to address AJ trading away Rooker when Rooker, at 27 had hit a total of 10 HR’s in his entire MLB career and was after a few chances, not showing any ability to hit at MLB level. So, the guy bashes AJ for trading him – didn’t bother to bash KC for waiving him a few weeks later for nothing at all, after they had given him 1 more chance. to prove himself.
I used Tatis because, on the other end of the spectrum, AJ picked out a 17 year old kid based on projected talent. Something that as you posted, had not even been seen yet.
I don’t like a guy getting bashed for making a fair decision based on performance shown, just because a guy finds something (hopefully not illegal) that opens up a door for him in production a few years later.
I used Tatis as a point that there are no crystal balls in baseball (or anywhere, really) and AJ traded away a guy that was not performing at 27. CWS let a 17 year old top 10 MLB player go because they didn’t have a crystal ball either.
You make a lot of trades – you win some and you lose some.
Yup, we’re in agreement: if anything just amplifying your point. In the Pods assessment of Rooker made an informed decision based on fixed data that his time with the organization was at an end of the road: very similar to the White Sox decision to cut bait on Andrew Vaughn, still the right decision for all parties. Typically, cutting bait on a 3 outcomes type hitter at 1b/DH doesn’t come back to haunt you as that’s one of the more easily replaceable skill sets. Tatis is even more of a wildcard: White Sox get pummeled for including him as a throw in but in that instance they had no data to go by. Wasn’t like they were giving up on an amateur draft selection. Tatis literally had no track record to go by other than his DNA. Had not even started organized ball in the US. Good on Preller for picking the right ping pong ball
Use of the word throw in and getting pummeled reminds me of SD adding Carlos Baerga in a trade – he had been in effective with a few chances so, didn’t look to be a big deal.
Or Jake Cronenworth as a throw in.
All teams have them in their past if they make trades.
My brother and I were talking about this yesterday. Even some of the young players traded away to the Marlins really hurt. But Machado and Boegarts aren’t getting any younger and one can see why AJ had to pull the trigger when he has.
Owner signed Bogaerts
They aren’t going to do better than Preller. He keeps this team competitive with Dodgers and that’s quite the accomplishment
These are my favorite type of comments “Preller trades”
Oh no he traded Turner Munoz Fried Abrams Wood Gore Naylor
And?
He’s also traded
Luis Patino Blake Hunt Cole Wilcox for Blake Snell
Also traded Paroubeck Wisler in the Kimbrel deal
Also traded Arias Cantillo Miller in the Clevinger deal
Also traded Potts and Rosario
Also traded Trammel Torrens France in the Nola trade
Also traded Preciado Caissie Mena Santana in the Darvish trade
Also traded Head Cruz Bednar Fellows in the Musgrove trade
Also traded Marcarno Suwinski Milano in the Frazier trade
Also traded Ruiz and Gasser for Hader
Also traded Jimenez for Perez, Mazur Snelling Beshears Pauley for Scott and Hoeing, Gonzalez Bush Jr Lesko for Adams,
You can name less than 10 guys Preller traded away he should “regret” meanwhile there’s probably 50 prospect guys Preller traded away in more than 10 trades that he wound up coming on top of in the deal getting more value from guys he traded for than traded away
Funny how nobody remembers the 50-60 nobodies he traded away for pieces to help with a playoff run
Exhausting. Less wordy: more jerky
You forgot Marsee in the trade for Arraez.
I like the Padres all-in aporoach over the last five seasons, every season they bet the house and make a run at winning it all. They haven’t won and they’ve traded away a lot of great players in the process but they lay it out there and its been exciting. It is going to be interesting to see how they navigate the waters when Tatis and Machado are maxed out and the farm is tapped. Are they going to spend their way out of the lean years?
I dont get the Luis Arraez situation, passing on Arraez. I imagine Arraez was leveraging the Padres for a multiyear deal and wasn’t willing to take the same sort of 1 year deal from the Padres that he signed with the Giants. I also imagine the Giants promising him playing time at 2B but the Padres could have done that too, sliding Cronenworth to 1B.
That must have been an interesting negotiation, the Padres and Arraez, assuming the Padres had some interest. They traded Jakob Marsee for him and that was after Marsee had scorched Arizona Fall League. Its difficult to believe that the Padres couldn’t get that deal done. Arraez was a good fit with the Padres and now he is with a division rival.
Prellers trade history is littered with flashes in the pan
“Oh no they traded Ty France” – flamed out after like 2 seasons of being a quality bat was DFA by Mariners and is now a free agent bouncing around
“Oh no they traded Ryan Weather!” – dude can’t stay healthy 2 seasons in Miami’s 24 starts
“Oh no they traded Clase!” Dudes never gonna pitch again after 5 seasons due to his gambling stuff
“Oh no they traded Eric Lauer on the Grisham trade!” – lasted 2 good seasons let go by Milwaukee didn’t pitch in 2024 and found something with Toronto hopefully but could also revert back to a pumpkin
“He traded Zach Eflin!” Dudes been a #4 majority of his career
“He traded Grandal!” – steroid bust and had 4 quality seasons in LA before declining
“He traded Kyle Brash” – k he traded a reliever that flamed out as a starter? Not exactly a loss given how amazing the padres been has been last 2 years but alright
I could go on but unless he’s traded away a guys who’s dominate more than 5 seasons I’m not too concerned over it
Trea Turner sure big loss. But prellers literally developed 4 top 10 ss prospects in all of baseball 4 times sooooooo
Tatis Jr
Merrill
Abrams
De Vries
Of all the positions I’m not losing sleep over its bullpen so guys like Brash Munoz Clase aren’t as big of losses when Preller finds guys like Pierce Suarez Estrada
They traded a recent first round pick in Turner for a guy who had just won the AL ROY, had 6 years of control and was a previous top 4 prospect in baseball. They ended up losing that trade because baseball isn’t predictable, but I don’t hold that against him.
The Padres probably have the best bullpen in baseball which is amazing when you list all of the big arms they have dealt over the years. Munoz and Brash for sure, but also Emmanuel Clase and David Bedner and I’m probably spacing on some others.
He has a much better track record trading young starting pitchers, than future relievers. Lots of past top 100 starters dealt that end up being released before ever making it to free agency. Including two from that mentioned Clevinger trade in Cal Quantrill and Logan Allen. I think it’s just Max Fried and Zach Eflin in the starter bucket that made it to free agency without first being released when they were still under control.
If 80% of prospects flop and you sit on them all then I don’t think that’s the most efficient use of them.
he’s done some stuff that’s definitely backfired but harping on river ryan is wild.
he was a position player that couldn’t hit. credit to the dodgers for turning him into a pitcher but that’s a fluke thing.
Since 2014 Fred, add the following names to your list:
Craig Kimbrel
Max Fried
Craig Kimbrel
David Bednar
Yasmani Grandal
Luis Castillo
Brent Rooker
Josh Naylor
Mackenzie Gore
He could be the perfect replacement for Getz on the Southside.
I understand why Sheets was moved off of 1B initially but I don’t understand why he wasn’t put back there sooner. Makes me wonder about all the guys who were forced into a new position due to being blocked by a veteran, but the position change stuck even after the position opened up.
For the padres at least, Shildt was deadset on Arraez playing and there is no other place for him except 1B. Arraez was terrible at 2B compared to Jake Cronenworth (and the other depth pieces we had like Jose Iglesias). That pushed Sheets down in importance and he was being moved to wherever there was room. So he played LF and DH way more than 1B…
Yep, Shildt was a “small ball Cardinals-way” guy at heart. You can’t do that with a weak middle infield, and Arraez was less an infield risk at 1st than 2nd, particularly when the Pads had Cronie and others who could field the spot well and hit well enough.
I love baseball.
I love eating cold, leftover Chinese food.
I just did that yesterday! Cherished memories.
That must have been a good day. Especially if you didn’t have to use your A.K.
I suddenly really miss the SuperSonics.
Do those girls you keep (s)talking about know this? You know the B actresses no one remembers…Chloe something. If you love baseball and not them then that’s mixed messages.
Goldschmidt please! Would be an insanely good platoon partner with Sheets.
Always intrigued by former pitchers managing. Haven’t been many of them.
John Farrell comes to mind for a recent successful one. But you’re right, every former pitcher turned skipper, there’s a half dozen former catchers.
Buddy Black!
Tommy Lasorda, Pat Dobbs, Bill Craig ( i think)
Roger Craig
That is who I meant. Thanks for the correction Brew.
I’ll give him credit for Darvish, but I’m taking some away for Tre Turner. The Soto trade was an overpay and they got lucky with Tatis Jr. as it was a salary dump of Shields. Not the great GM everyone claims he is
Or the team saw something in Tatis the White Sox didn’t.
Luck or not, a salary dump turning into a franchise cornerstone stays on the scoreboard.
Fair, but still
You know how I know he is great? because no one is going to articles about other gms trying to discredit them as much as they do about Preller. They barely talk about other GMs in general.
If they write more on other GMs I will be happy to discredit them too. I don’t play favorites.
Clearly you do
What about all he got back for Soto?
Hard to see anything w Tatis the Sox didn’t when the 17 yr old kid hadn’t even played in the Sox system.
If Preller leaves, I’ll be a fan of whatever team he goes to, barring a few exceptions. Aside from guys on the ’98 team he has done more for my enjoyment of baseball than any person on earth.
Wow that almost brings a tear to my eye
Having Michael King say Preller was one of the main reasons he wanted to return to SD was a pretty big compliment. And the reasoning made sense, he would do everything in his power to put together a talented team.
Preller has made some good trades, some bad trades. Some good free agent signings some not so good free agent signings.
When you wheel and deal as after as he does this is gonna happen.
Btw those big money deals are ownership pushing chips in.
The thing about Preller is he can find prospects. The team has been competitive the last 6 years making the playoffs 4 times.
The farm system is currently weak but give him a year and it will look better.
The dude keeps us entertained and pushes his chips into the center of the table more than anybody. We need more Cowboy GMs like him. He makes the offseason fun.
Preller made moves to try to win a WS, can’t really dog him for that. But it is pretty absurd to trade away that many blue chip prospects for Soto. Xander Bogarets never made any sense for that team, not at that price. As a card collector it’s amazing to see all these stars that came from SD Padres system, now wearing different uniforms. According to multiple outlets, this once proud farm system is currently ranked 31st or 32nd (dead last), according to who you ask.
You must be ai because there are 30 teams.
Marsee is the player that the Padres will regret trading the most. He is going to be in discussion for MVPs.
Agreed on Marsee.
From Trea Turner to James Wood, with many worthy in between, the impatient little insomniac has mastered trading for pitchers at their peak so we can follow them for the next few years on the injury reports. Bogie was an over pay for sure, but at least not as infuriating as the Soto trade when it was obvious from the start that Padres would never be able to sign him long term after he’d turned down multi-years and 450 mil.
What about how many MLB ready players he got in return for Soto – Thorpe flipped for 2 years of Cease; 2 years of King, 1 year (a bounce back even) of Higgy; 2 and counting of Vazquez as a fair enough 5 guy with 4 upside, Brito waiting to show his stuff after surgery.
The Stammen, Preller, and player press conferences yesterday at Fanfest were enlightening.
Stammen said that Sheets is getting the first shot to be the everyday 1B, Campusano will be the backup catcher and get at bats at DH as well, the DH spot will be what they had planned it to be last season, a place to rotate people through to keep them fresh. That Sung-mun Song would be ready for spring training.
Preller said that they are still looking for a couple more bats especially at 1B/DH and another arm. He said that Sheets still has steps he needs to make to lock it down. That if they can add an everyday DH that they would. He said that they do not have to cut payroll. Preller also said the team has a budget and is at a point that they will be adding. It seems like they are still a couple of weeks away from a Darvish decision and Darvish has expressed a desire to continue to be a Padre after his playing days are over. Something we already knew is that Darvish had moved to San Diego full time.
Sheets seemed extremely excited about playing 1B in his press conference. He brought up how much the Padres staff and players communicate in the offseason and that other teams don’t necessarily do that. That was interesting.
I was blown away that King said the main reason he signed back with the Padres was Preller. You never hear players saying that about the GM.
Multiple players talked about how tight the team is and how important that culture is. That was a theme that ran throughout the pressers. Another thing that multiple players talked about was the importance of Darvish mentoring Vazquez last season.
All of the players seem extremely excited for 2026 and feel they can win it all. Not matter what, this is an extremely talented team and it’s going to fun to watch them this season. LFG Padres!
Not sure where that bat is coming from – Hoskins; Goldy – a good platoon bat for sure of need but, not game changer.
As for SP – i’d bet a Pivetta deal is in the works for Gio or Bassitt or Littell or if not, then Martinez on 1 year. I’d say Gallen but, not giving up a pick for a short term / opt out deal for Gallen which, I think he has fallen to at this point.
They may add a bat via trade
Not much mentioned about Eguy.
Eguy is no longer on the roster. He is a minor league free agent.
Web – thanks for update on Eguy. I knew he finished 2025 in SF minor leagues but was unaware of the FA status.
The Padres don’t need a game changing bat. They need an above average bat. That lineup is stacked as it is.
Rather see them sign Littell or Giolito than Bassitt. Preller does like his change of pace pitchers, but rather have someone that throws closer to league average velocity.
Nick, Sheets started 60 games in LF and had a -3 DRS. That is far from atrocious. It’s appalling that you don’t know that not a single defensive metric can be used to judge a player’s performance after that small of a sample size. Another point you totally blew is his platoon splits. Sheets platoon splits were actually better, meaning less “hefty”, than league average for LHB. Since you are a paid writer, it is disconcerting that you get simple facts like that so wrong and do that consistently. Fact checking used to be a part of a sportswriter’s job.
I would encourage everyone here to go watch and listen to the Padres staff and player press conferences that were part of FanFest yesterday. Marty Caswell does a great job of posting videos of those on her YouTube account.
it looks like Padres have reduced their chances to compete for division, Giants kept 500 ball alive, and Arizona has not improved enough either.
Dodgers look like it will be a simple walk to division title unless they really blow it or have so many injuries that they can’t place 5+ all stars on field
The Giants have upgraded at starting pitcher, infield and outfield. The Padres have gone backwards. Preller always makes a positive move late in the off-season, so all hope isn’t lost.
Since OD last year the Pads have filled voids at C and LF, added the most dominant RP in baseball, and Musgrove is returning. They lost Cease and his 4.5 ERA, and Arraez. You must be high on Arraez to suggest the team is going backwards. And as AJ Preller said publicly this past weekend, the team plans to add a couple of bats and SPs to the OD roster.
The team is in a better place than last year’s 90 win team
Data, the Padres team is better today than it was to start to 2025 season. They won 90 games last year.
Not a bad lineup……
Tatis- RF
Merrill- CF
Machado- 3B
Sheets- 1B
Bogaerts- SS
Laureano- LF
Song or someone new- DH
Cronenworth- 2B
Fermin- C
Agree or not, but I believe the Padres window has closed.
Lol they had 2 90~+ win seasons in a row.
Ken Rosenthal is that you?
I know they said the DH spot is meant to be open to rotate players through but I’d like to see them sign Marcell Ozuna. 7 career Home Runs in 32 games at Petco are the most Home Runs he’s hit as a visiting player in an NL west park and he’d be a nice power bat in the middle of the Padres lineup
I wanted the same thing but I heard on a podcast his bat speed went down every month last year. I don’t think he is ok after the hip surgery. I would take him on the minimum $1m even with the scary underlying stats but I doubt padres can get him for anything close to that.
I want Suarez > Goldshmidt > Hoskins > Ozuna in that order for a dh type
baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search?hfPT=&…
Goldy would probably start at 1B.
re: Preller
“You go with the horse that brung you”. I cringed at two or three of his trades, the “Soto for one year and he’s gone guaranteed” trade, in particular. However, Preller’s ability to stock and restock the farm, and his ability to keep the Padres within the MLB competition discussion, is unmatched.
If one’s bottom line is “Did he win a World Series”, he’ll never be content with 95% of the GM’s, throughout HISTORY! Only one of 30 teams wins the World Series. In this current era, it’s one of the teams spending enough cash to buy and retain top talent (though, that is an “entry price”, and doesn’t guarantee a W.S., either).
If the Padres pass on Preller, or somehow fail to arrive at a mutually agreeable contract, this team will retreat to the backwaters of baseball for at least a decade. While folks can criticize the current lack of talent in the farm system, and blame Preller for that due to trades, he’s the only GM out there with the PROVEN ability to restock the farm within a year or two, while not conducting a fire sale with the big club, to do it. Preller is not a “baseball god”, but he’s one heck of a competitive and talented GM. In fact, my worry is just the opposite of the Padres dropping Preller. The greater worry is that Preller pulls a “Schildt”, burns himself out with the hours, the intensity of the MLB schedule and system, and needs a breather for a year or two.
As far as Sheets, the topic of the article and this thread: He’s still in “prove himself” mode. He hasn’t proven he can hit or field like a regular position player. He’s still a role player. If he can be platooned with the right, RH first baseman, that’s the best option. Sheets could still prove that he’s a late bloomer, and start hitting both lefties and righties, improve 1B defense to average competency, then maybe next year he owns the position (and a lot more $$$). He’s not that now.
Isn’t Preller the guy who traded Trea Turner?
He’s also the guy that got Tatis for Shilds
After nearly 20 years a Padres season ticket holder, I’ve seen all of the little insomniac’s tenure.
Several important points missed in this article. 1) Padres are up for sale. 2) Joint family ownership is fighting one another in court. 3) The Padres have albatross player contracts hanging over their heads. 4) Prellar has gone through 6 managers in 10 years. 5) Prellar has completely depleted the farm.
It’s easy to look like a super star baseball exec when you have unlimited access to somebody else’s money … but tough when you lose your sugar daddy, may the wonderful Peter Seidler rest in peace.
Prellar has one redeeming virtue: he is a really talented scout/ talent evaluator. That’s what he should be, the head of a scouting department.
But anyway, if you wanted to sell a franchise do you think it would be attractive to the prospective buyers to saddle them with the guy who arguably has wrecked the Padres’ future?
Unless Elon Musk would like to purchase, I doubt if Prellar is your man.
The one caveat to trading the farm is the opportunities it provides to develop players in their place.
Padres are consistently opening the rosters on the AAA and AA çlubs, providing opportunities for players like Samad Taylor and Jose Miranda to develop later in their careers. Two players signed to MiLB deals that slide into the starting lineups in the Padres system. Nick Schnell and Triston McKenzie are two more minor league free agents that will get everyday reps with an extended opportunity to advance their games.
Its hard to lose De Vries and Marsee, both could have been in the Padres starting lineup this season but they wouldn’t be a better team this year and as it sits, they are poised to compete for the division.
Committing to Sheets at first base defensively could be a big win. 6’5 lefty, prototypical first baseman, big target helps the entire infield defense.
They kept Cronenworth over Arraez and signed Song. Unfortunately, Cronenworth’s deal and Sheets’ affordability jammed up the roster and squeezed Arraez out.
Ultimately, its the ’28 to ’33 seasons that are in jeopardy and you can’t yet count the Padres out because they have three full seasons to draft, sign and develop young prospects to fill a few roster spots. College bats in the ’26 draft, a couple Japanese, could find another DeVries and another Marsee in that time.
They shouldn’t be so loose with their young pitching in the next few seasons. Mayfield, Cruz, Schoolcraft and Mendez should all be stacked, it would be huge for the Padres if three of the four succeed. Would get them through the long money years on Machado and Tatis. They need young, affordable starting pitching in those years, and they still have time to put it together.
If you can’t spell his name, why are we supposed to even consider your opinion?
The Padres are not for sale. The brothers are exploring a sale, but cannot do so while the lawsuit is ongoing.
They team has continued spending after Peter Seidler died and has said they will continue doing so.
The Padres have multiple young players signed long term and have had the best stretch in franchise history. If you were actually a season ticket holder, you would be touting those things instead of whining.
You don’t have to read Jeff Sanders to get this info, just go listen to the press conferences by Preller, Stammens, and a number of players at Fan Fest. Marty Caswell has them on her YouTube account.