Adrian Morejon Sheds Light On His Padres' Future

The San Diego Padres face a long offseason - one that could be longer than usual due to the impending lockout. 

The Padres lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in four games in the NLDS, and a big question was why star left-hander Adrian Morejon didn't pitch after Game 1. 

He threw two innings and took the loss in Game 1, but he didn't appear in any game after that, raising questions as to whether or not he suffered an injury. 

Morejon signed a one-year deal this offseason, and he looked every bit like a star reliever for the loaded San Diego bullpen. 

So, re-signing Morejon should be a priority, and here's what the southpaw said after the postseason run came to an end. 

"I start thinking of everything for the last 10 years,” Morejon said, via AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. “I feel like I’ve grown up in this organization.”

“Everybody knows that,” Morejon said when asked about a return. “My agent knows that. It’s not really in my hands right now.”

Morejon is not a closer, but he could still command top-end reliever money. According to Spotrac, Los Angeles Dodgers setup man Tanner Scott earned $17 million in 2026, although Scott did become a closer for some time as Edwin Diaz dealt with an injury. 

Robert Suarez, who was the Padres' closer until Mason Miller was acquired, became a setup man after signing a three-year, $45 million deal with the Atlanta Braves. 

So, could a Suarez-type deal get the job done to keep Morejon in town? 

Morejon went 9-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 76 games. In 2025, he went 13-6 with a 2.08 ERA while being named an All-Star, and he went 3-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 2024, so he has been on a roll. 

Morejon, however, became the setup man to Mason Miller this season, and he excelled in that role time and time again. 

Robert Murray of FanSided said the interest will be "mutual" between Morejon and San Diego for a return. And, Fernando Tatis Jr. told AJ Preller straight-up during the locker room celebration that he hopes Morejon gets a new contract. 

At the recent deadline, it was reported that the Padres turned down an offer from the New York Yankees that would've sent Morejon to the Bronx for Will Warren, although others remained unsure if that was actually an offer or not. 

All in all, Morejon wants to be back, the Padres should definitely want him back, and only time will tell if the new owners open up the checkbooks and keep the important pieces on the roster going forward.