In a dream world, the Padres would be able to address all their needs. Unfortunately, we live in a world with payrolls and budgets, so A.J. Preller may have to pick just one void to fill.
The Padres’ offseason has continued to be headlined by rumors rather than actual additions, as they’ve watched National League rivals like theFinally, general manager A.J. Preller has begun to wake up as mid-tier free agents start to come off the board.
Even so, the organization has already matched last season’s payroll, making it unlikely ownership will approve any major deals. That constraint limits what moves are realistically possible before spring training. Preller may have to choose just one of the roster’s multiple holes to address. Any addition would help, but the two most glaring needs remain starting pitching depth and lineup depth.at the back end, but the lineup also lacks pop behind a streaky Gavin Sheets and an unpredictable Sung-Mun Song. Across both groups, there’s a wide range of potential impact. Above all else, the most valuable move Preller could make would be adding a star bat. Between landing an arm like Valdez or Gallen andA true impact bat would turn the lineup into one with virtually no weak spots, featuring Jake Cronenworth in the literal eight hole. In a league where rivals are spending aggressively on offense, the Padres need to keep pace, and Abrams’ availability represents their best remaining chance to secure affordable production. The rotation would be questionable, however, which is why pitching should be the priority IF there aren’t any Abrams-level players available. A stacked lineup feels necessary to compete with the high spending N.L. powerhouses, but this team needs pitching. Sears and Vásquez are slated for the No. 4 and No. 5 spots after seasons in which both posted xERAs above 5.00. Beyond that, Michael King threw barely more than 70 innings last year, and Joe Musgrove is recovering from Tommy John surgery. That leaves just one reliable, healthy starter in Nick Pivetta. Adding a sixth starter would significantly stabilize the rotation, even if it meant fewer offensive upgrades. It’s only worth sacrificing pitching depth if the Padres can land a bat capable of matching the firepower of their NL rivals. Mid-tier arms like Verlander, Martinez or Giolito would allow Musgrove to rest, or give manager Craig Stammen the flexibility to pull Sears or Vásquez from the rotation if needed. It’s been a quiet offseason in San Diego, but there’s still hope that Preller has a move coming. The only remaining question is which path the front office ultimately chooses.Greg Spicer resides in San Diego, California, after growing up in Chicago where baseball was a constant presence throughout his life. He attends San Diego State University, gaining experience working for MLB teams in both Chicago and San Diego through stadium and game-day operations, while also covering athletics at SDSU. A White Sox fan who has since embraced Padres fandom, Greg has covered football, collegiate sports, MLB and the NBA for multiple outlets, including Fox 5/KUSI, before starting at On SI.
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