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LAS VEGAS -- The Padres spent their week in Las Vegas as one of the buzziest teams at the General Managers Meetings. To hear it told, they are in on just about everyone.
Which isn’t new. Or surprising. Padres GM A.J. Preller is notorious for his thoroughness. That player you heard rumored to the Padres? There’s almost certainly some truth to that rumor. Because Preller doesn’t leave any stone unturned.
Even still, this feels like a particularly interesting offseason. The Padres will be active, because they have to be active. They need to fill an entire rotation, while adding to their bullpen and their offense.
Here are five takeaways from the week in Las Vegas:
1. There’s some flexibility this winter compared to the past couple
The Padres were operating on a bit of a budget in the last two winters. Preller, under those constraints, did some of his best work. But based on the way Preller sounded during Tuesday’s media availability, he’ll have a bit more room to operate, particularly under new owners Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano.
“They’re very open that they’re committed to putting a winning team on the field,” Preller said. “Exactly what form that looks like, how much the exact dollars are -- I think that’s a little player-specific. We have some money coming off the books. We have some holes to fill.”
2. In on Skubal?
As The Athletic first reported earlier this week, the Padres will be among the teams set to meet with left-hander Tarik Skubal, sources said. Skubal is the top free agent on the market and could command a record-setting deal for a starting pitcher.
Preller was asked Tuesday if the Padres would be involved at the very top end of the free-agent market, and he mostly deflected. But he also didn’t seem to rule out that possibility, under new ownership.
“We have a core group of position players that we like that have done a lot of winning,” Preller said. “Their appetite to put a really good team on the field -- and understanding that it takes resources and it takes payroll to do that -- the marching orders have been: ‘Let’s go put a winning team on the field.’”
3. The need in the rotation is stark
Signing Skubal would represent a coup for the Padres. It would also only go so far. Preller was asked about the acute need in his rotation, then was presented with a specific number of starters he might be looking for.
Three? Four?
“Keep going,” Preller said with a knowing grin.
Indeed, the Padres will be after top-end starters. Even if Skubal seems unlikely, they remain interested in a reunion with Michael King. But there’s a need for a volume play in the rotation as well.
“You can never have too much, from a starting pitching standpoint,” Preller said.
4. They need bullpen help, too
The need is significantly less urgent in the bullpen. The Padres have Mason Miller coming back. Bradgley Rodriguez took a major step forward this year in the setup role. Jeremiah Estrada is expected back healthy, and Yuki Matsui opted into his deal for 2027.
There are depth options, too -- David Morgan, Wandy Peralta and Kyle Hart. The Padres’ bullpen is in a good place. But it’s not complete. Adrian Morejon and Jason Adam are free agents, and it would be a mistake for Preller to assume he could simply replace that kind of production in-house.
“Every year you’ve got to remake your ‘pen a little bit,” Preller said. “The bullpen’s not a spot where you’re like, ‘Hey, we can just run it back.’
“Having those guys, obviously, with the best closer in baseball, that’s a good place to start. … We come in with a bullpen that has the makings of a strong unit. But we’re going to have to continue to add to it, honestly.”
5. Miller cleaned up during awards week
Speaking of Miller, he was rightly rewarded for his incredible season in Las Vegas this week. Miller took home the BBWAA’s first NL Reliever of the Year Award. He won it unanimously, receiving all 30 first-place votes.
Miller also landed the Trevor Hoffman Award (a separate award given to the top reliever in each league). On top of that, he was named to the All-MLB First Team at Wednesday’s Awards Show.
Still, Miller clearly isn’t satisfied. In a conference call after winning the BBWAA honor, he spoke about his desire to get better and his desire to get the Padres over the hump.
“You don’t necessarily play this sport for individual awards,” Miller said. “I’d trade it for a World Series championship. In a heartbeat. But I think it’s important to take note and appreciate recognition when it’s received.”