Here’s What We Learned About Padres At GM Meetings

The San Diego Padres didn’t make a lot of moves at the GM meetings this ewek, but we did learn some things about what their approach to this offseason will be. GM A.J. Preller seems to have a viable plan this offseason, unlike last year when he was basically stuck in neutral waiting for the team to be sold. 

But the Padres have a new ownership group, and Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, the leaders of that group, reportedly want to make a splash, per a report from Jorge Castillo, Alden Gonzalez and Jesse Rogers of ESPN. That report covered what we learned about all 30 teams this week when the GM meetings took place in Las Vegas. 

The Preller-speak part of this happened when he talked about how that translates to money, as the GM said that will be “player specific.” The Padres do have $60 million coming off the books after multiple players entered free agency, and that’s where things get interesting. 

It doesn’t change the big problem, however. As the writers noted, the Padres’ payroll is still clogged with massive deals for Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts, who cost a combined $80 million annually toward their competitive balance tax payroll. That could be the basis for a potential salary cap if the owners are somehow able to get one, but those deals are on the books through 2033 regardless. 

It also doesn’t change San Diego’s needs. The starting rotation is still the priority, followed by left field, first base and a potential hole in the back of their bullpen. 

What Preller is banking on is that the new owners got a taste of playoff baseball this year, and it wasn’t just a quick duck-and-cover experience in the Wild Card round. The Padres didn’t extend the Milwaukee Brewers all the way to five games in the NLDS, but they did force Milwaukee to make some key plays in what was a very competitive series to make it to the next round. 

Preller added that the Padres like their core group of position players, but this offseason represents a chance to get younger and more athletic. 

He’s referred to it as a “blank canvas,” and it will be interesting to see if any of the meetings the Padres took this week result in tangible signings to make that big splash before the lockout starts on Dec. 1.