Matt Johnson
The San Diego Padres have been gradually shedding payroll in recent years but have still managed to win 90-plus games in consecutive seasons and make the playoffs. While the club is off to a strong start this season, it appears that president of baseball operations A.J. Preller might not be safe.
Dennis Lin of The Athletic wrote that Preller’s future as the Padres general manager is uncertain with the franchise currently up for sale. While he expects the top MLB executive to finish the season in San Diego, a new owner could come in at the end of the year and replace him.
“Preller’s future past 2026 remains uncertain. No one directly involved will confirm the terms of his recent extension, but most indications are that he is now under contract through 2028. If a billionaire owner wants to handpick their own general manager, moving on from Preller would represent a relatively small expense.
Dennis Lin of The Athletic on the Future of San Diego Padres GM A.J. Preller
Related: San Diego Padres Expected to Sell at Historic Price
Preller joined the Padres organization in August 2014 as general manager, having a chance to rebuild the franchise after he spent more than a decade with the Texas Rangers. With the backing of then-owner Peter Seidler, San Diego spent more money on its team than ever before and emerged as a perennial contender.
It paid off in recent years. From 2020-25, the Padres posted a 470-400 record in the regular season, making the playoffs four times and recording a winning record in five of six seasons. However, following Seidler’s passing, the club has steadily worked to shed payroll ever since.
For those groups interested in buying the Padres, with the money largely coming from venture capitalists and private equity, the choice could come down to prioritizing revenue over on-field results. A similar thing has happened with the Boston Red Sox in recent years under the Fenway Sports Group.
If that proves to be the case, new ownership could decide that Preller’s way of building a team isn’t the most cost-effective option and instead may replace him with someone who can build a more financially friendly roster that maximizes revenue. If that happens, Preller will be one of the most sought-after people in baseball this winter.
