The San Diego Padres are staring down a defining offseason, and general manager A.J. Preller will be working with far less financial freedom than in previous years. A string of hefty long-term contracts has tightened the team’s payroll, limiting how aggressively they can operate.
Because of that, the status of several established veterans is now in flux as the Padres search for ways to open roster and payroll space—particularly to reinforce a starting rotation that currently has multiple gaps.
Among the players whose futures are uncertain is infielder Jake Cronenworth, who just wrapped up his sixth season with the club.
In 2025, the 31-year-old produced a .246 batting average with a .367 on-base percentage and a .744 OPS, adding 11 home runs and 59 RBIs over 135 games.
Jake Cronenworth is locked into a team-friendly seven-year, $80 million contract he signed ahead of the 2023 season, and because he remains a steady, reliable contributor, he’s exactly the type of player who could both clear meaningful payroll space and attract interest from a wide range of clubs.
According to a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Padres have been actively shopping Cronenworth this offseason as they look for every possible avenue to free up money for much-needed starting pitching. Nightengale even notes there’s a legitimate chance Cronenworth has already played his last game in San Diego.
This situation comes as the market intensifies for former Padres pitcher Michael King, now a free agent. MLB.com recently reported that several teams — including the Tigers, Mets, Yankees, Orioles, Angels, Padres, Marlins, and Red Sox — have shown varying degrees of interest in the right-hander.
If San Diego succeeds in moving Cronenworth’s contract, that financial breathing room could be redirected toward retaining King. Despite a shaky 2025 campaign, he still possesses top-of-the-rotation potential when healthy, something he demonstrated in 2024 when he finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting.
Over his stint with the Padres, King has appeared in 46 games and produced an 18–12 record with a 3.10 ERA, striking out 277 batters in 247 innings. His ability to miss bats remains elite thanks to a deep and explosive pitch mix.
There’s also an added layer of organizational pride attached to retaining King: he was a centerpiece of the blockbuster Juan Soto trade with the Yankees. Keeping him would not only strengthen the rotation but also help preserve the long-term value of one of the franchise’s most consequential deals in recent memory.