A.J. Preller Says Padres Still Need Bullpen Help Behind Mason Miller

The San Diego Padres have one of baseball’s best closers in Mason Miller. Who gets the ball to him next season is still an offseason question.

Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com at the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas that San Diego still needs to add to its bullpen. Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon are free agents, leaving the club with decisions to make about the innings before the ninth.

“Every year you’ve got to remake your ’pen a little bit,” Preller said. “The bullpen’s not a spot where you’re like, ‘Hey, we can just run it back.’”

Miller gives the Padres a clear answer in the ninth after winning the inaugural BBWAA National League Reliever of the Year Award unanimously. He also took home the Trevor Hoffman Award and earned All-MLB First Team honors.

Bradgley Rodriguez is one of the leading internal options to set him up. The right-hander took on more responsibility in 2026 and showed he could handle the ninth when called upon. He earned his first major league save against Cleveland, working around a leadoff double and retiring the next three hitters.

Jeremiah Estrada is expected back healthy, according to Cassavell, giving manager Craig Stammen another right-hander to use late in games. Left-hander Yuki Matsui opted into his deal for 2027, and San Diego also has David Morgan, Wandy Peralta and Kyle Hart among its returning options.

That group gives Stammen several ways to cover the seventh and eighth. Rodriguez can take on more setup work, while Matsui and Peralta give him left-handed options. An addition would give Stammen more flexibility on nights when Miller or one of his primary setup arms needs a rest.

The Padres also have several holes in their starting rotation. That remains the more urgent job, but the two needs are connected. If the new starters struggle to pitch deep into games, Stammen will need more from the middle of his bullpen before he can get to Rodriguez, Estrada or Miller.

Preller has room to look for a veteran who can handle setup innings or a reliever who can cover more than three outs. With Miller set for the ninth, the Padres can use the winter to fill in the innings that get them there.