The San Diego Padres have endured a rough opening to the offseason. They were unable to retain Dylan Cease, who opted to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays, and added to their frustrations on Thursday when closer Robert Suárez agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Braves.
Much of that turnover stems from the organization’s tighter spending approach. After carrying a $257.2 million payroll in 2023, San Diego reduced that figure to $172 million in 2024 before climbing back to roughly $220 million in 2025, a level the club expects to maintain.
“We anticipate payroll will remain at a similar level to last year….We’re operating the club as we have for the last five or six years,” Padres chairman John Seidler said.
That financial posture could lead to further losses, with both Michael King and Luis Arraez set to test free agency. With fewer resources available than in recent seasons, the Padres have increasingly turned to the trade market as a way to reshape the roster.
Amid the uncertainty, president of baseball operations A.J. Preller offered reassurance about Fernando Tatis Jr.’s status within the organization. “He’s somebody that we’re not talking about, however you want to say that. If you want to say that’s ‘untouchable,’ you can say that,” Preller said.
Given Preller’s track record of headline-making deals involving players like Juan Soto, Mason Miller and Cease, that message should resonate with fans. Despite the offseason challenges, Tatis’ name is not expected to surface in trade discussions anytime soon, underscoring his importance to the Padres’ long-term plans.