The San Diego Padres have been gradually shedding salaries in recent years, but have still managed to win over 90 games in consecutive seasons and make the playoffs. While the club has gotten off to a strong start this season, it appears that President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller may not be safe.
Dennis Lynn of The Athletic wrote that Preller's future as Padres general manager is uncertain due to the franchise currently being for sale. While he expects the top MLB executive to finish the season in San Diego, a new owner could come in and replace him at the end of the year.
"Preller's future beyond 2026 remains uncertain. No one directly involved would confirm the terms of his recent extension, but most indications are that he is now under contract until 2028. If a billionaire owner wanted to choose his own general manager, moving on from Preller would represent a relatively small expense.
Dennis Lynn of The Athletic's GM AJ Preller on the future of the San Diego Padres
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Preller joined the Padres organization as general manager in August 2014, giving him the opportunity to rebuild the franchise after spending more than a decade with the Texas Rangers. With the support of then-owner Peter Seidler, San Diego spent more money on its team than ever before and emerged as a perennial contender.
It bore fruit in recent years. From 2020–25, the Padres compiled a 470–400 record in the regular season, made the playoffs four times and posted a winning record in five of the six seasons. However, since Seidler's demise, the club has continually worked to reduce the payroll.
For groups interested in purchasing the Padres, whose money largely comes from venture capitalists and private equity, the choice may come down to prioritizing revenue over on-field results. The same has happened with the Boston Red Sox under Fenway Sports Group in recent years.
If this proves to be the case, the new ownership may decide that Preller's way of building the team is not the most cost-effective option and instead replace him with someone who can build a more financially favorable roster that maximizes revenue. If that happens, Preller will be one of the most sought-after guys in baseball this winter.
