All articles tagged with #padres
Five groups are bidding to buy the San Diego Padres, led by Vuori founder Joe Kudla partnering with Drew Brees; other suitors include Joe Lacob and José Feliciano. First-round offers were due, with whispers of a near-$3 billion price tag as MLB eyes a possible deal around Opening Day.
The Seidler family is accelerating the sale of the San Diego Padres, with five prospective buyers submitting bids, including Joe Lacob, Jose Feliciano, Dan Friedkin, and a Drew Brees–Vuori group. While Sportico estimated the franchise at about $2.31 billion, industry sources suggest the sale could exceed $2.5 billion and possibly approach $3 billion, a figure that would set a MLB record if realized, with a potential deal around Opening Day.
San Diego signed ex-Dodger Walker Buehler to a minor-league deal and plugged him into a crowded rotation competition alongside Waldron, McKenzie, Márquez, Sears and Gonzales; at 31 and coming off a second Tommy John surgery, Buehler has battled command and velocity post-injury but flashed in the postseason and will try to rebound for a rotation slot in 2026.
San Diego Padres announce a multi-year contract extension for president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, locking him in for at least three more years (length not disclosed) as the architect who rebuilt the franchise into a perennial contender. The move follows a tenure that has yielded four playoff appearances in six years and an NLCS in 2022, driven by bold trades and payroll decisions; teammates like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado publicly praised his leadership as the team aims for its first World Series.
Padres chairman John Seidler reaffirmed the team will remain in San Diego even as the family explores a sale that could close by 2026, with bidders including Lacob, Friedkin and Feliciano; relocation would be costly, making a move unlikely. Meanwhile, Ty France, back with the Padres on a minor-league deal, returns to his hometown club and adds first-base/DH depth. On the field, Nick Pivetta says he prefers working with a single catcher (Freddy Fermin in the playoff game), signaling a possible one-catcher approach despite mixed calls from management about a two-catcher plan.
The San Diego Padres announced a multi-year extension for president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, keeping the architect of the team’s aggressive roster-building in place as ownership questions loom. Terms were not disclosed; since taking over in 2014, Preller has helped transform the Padres into playoff contenders with a high-profile trade track record, even as payroll and asset-management debates persist.
Nick Castellanos arrived at Padres spring training in Peoria with a “new vibe” after signing a one-year deal with the team following his release by the Phillies. He spent time working on first-base fundamentals and said he’s ready to do whatever helps the club, including a possible platoon at first base or designated hitter and earning every at-bat. Padres executives emphasized a fresh start, energy, and a flexible plan to maximize his impact, with Castellanos expressing enthusiasm for the organization’s culture and support.
San Diego signed right-hander Griffin Canning to a deal that will be finalized after a physical, adding rotation depth amid health questions for Darvish and a reshuffled staff; the 29-year-old is returning to Southern California after time with the Angels and Mets, including a ruptured Achilles in 2025, and velocity up to 93 mph in a showcase. Terms are undisclosed, and San Diego must create 40-man space after Castellanos’ signing.
Bleacher Nation’s Valentine’s Day roundup: Nick Castellanos signs with the Padres for the MLB minimum while the Phillies cover the rest, Griffin Canning also signs with San Diego, and Zac Gallen re-signs with the Diamondbacks in a deal that defers $14 million over five years; the piece also highlights Cubs notes on Cabrera’s leadership, PCA’s development, and other spring-training bullets.
San Diego moved to solidify its rotation and add a veteran bat by agreeing to deals with pitcher Griffin Canning and outfielder Nick Castellanos. Castellanos will join on a major‑league minimum salary in 2026 after being released by the Phillies, likely contributing at first base, designated hitter and corner outfield spots. Canning, a 29‑year‑old right-hander with previous MLB experience and a recent Achilles injury, could factor into the rotation but may not be ready to start the season. The Padres’ rotation currently features top arms Nick Pivetta, Michael King and Joe Musgrove, with Randy Vásquez as a candidate for the fourth spot; competition for the remaining rotation slot includes JP Sears, Matt Waldron, Marco Gonzales and Triston McKenzie, along with other minor‑league options, as spring work begins.
San Diego signed Nick Castellanos to a league-minimum MLB deal, adding a veteran right-handed bat who could split first-base duties with Gavin Sheets and serve as a DH/backup outfielder, with Laureano in left and an open 40-man roster slot delaying any immediate moves; Castellanos will try to rebound after a disappointing Phillies tenure marked by defensive struggles and clubhouse tensions.
San Diego is pursuing one more hitter and a back-end starting pitcher after being linked to Paul Goldschmidt and Framber Valdez; Goldschmidt chose the Yankees, Andujar signed for DH/1B versatility, and the Padres are weighing bench depth and additional pitching as they shore up a rotation led by Pivetta, King and Musgrove and consider internal options and minor‑league signings.
San Diego agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with Miguel Andujar, adding a versatile right-handed bat to the lineup. The 31-year-old posted a strong .318/.352/.470 line in 94 games last season with the A’s and Reds, his best production since his 2018 ROY runner-up year, and he provides depth and platoon potential despite a history of injuries.
With Luis Arraez departing for the Giants on a one-year deal, Gavin Sheets is positioned to take San Diego’s first-base job in 2026. He hit .252/.317/.429 with 19 homers in 145 games last season, but his outfield defense was poor; a move back to first could boost his value and help enable a more flexible DH mix. The Padres are weighing a platoon partner for Sheets and have added options like Sung-Mun Song and Will Wagner for the DH role, potentially resting regulars such as Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts. Meanwhile, GM AJ Preller’s contract extension remains unsettled amid reported tensions with club leadership, even as he has steered the team through a successful run in recent years.
Padres pitcher Yu Darvish is pondering retirement but has not made a final decision; discussions reportedly center on a potential contract buyout to save money for San Diego as he rehabs from elbow issues, with his camp and team weighing whether he can return to pitch after a 21-year career in Japan and MLB.