The Padres may look stocked for the near future, but the roster still has plenty of moving parts. A.J.
Preller has a stack of decisions ahead of him before Opening Day 2027, and the list runs well beyond simple depth-chart tweaks. Some of these players could walk away, some could wind up in trade talks, and some might get squeezed by money, health or playing time.
Nobody is packing a suitcase yet. But all seven names below are in the conversation.
Michael King sits near the top of that group for a simple reason: he has the kind of season that can change his own future. In 2026, he put up a 3.21 ERA over 185 innings, then followed that by allowing one earned run in 14 postseason innings.
That production gives him a real case to exercise his opt-out. His deal for 2027 includes a $28 million player option, along with a $5 million buyout if he chooses to leave.
The Padres would have every reason to try to keep him, but an opt-out would push the sides back into negotiation instead of ending the story.
Yuki Matsui is in a similar spot, only from the bullpen. He turned in a 1.83 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 64 innings in 2026, and that kind of year gives him a strong incentive to test the market.
He can opt out of the remaining two years and $13.5 million this winter. If he does, the Padres will have another bullpen decision to sort through, and another item added to Preller’s winter workload.
Jake Cronenworth brings a different kind of uncertainty. He played through a concussion for much of the 2026 season and still finished with a .225 average, seven homers and a .629 OPS.
His contract runs through 2030, which is why trade talks could surface. The obstacle is that any interested team will see those same numbers on the page.
A deal would have to make sense both on the field and on the books.
Xander Bogaerts is even trickier. He closed 2026 with a .231 average, 13 homers and a .676 OPS, and that production naturally puts his long-term salary in the spotlight.
But the full no-trade clause gives him major control over what comes next. He’s a long shot to move, and any idea that includes Mason Miller would need serious scrutiny.
Taking on the cost of an elite closer would be a steep baseball price, even if the financial picture improves.
JP Sears is more straightforward as a roster call. He posted a 4.68 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 32 2/3 major-league innings in 2026 and is projected for $2.9 million in arbitration.
San Diego needs depth, but it also needs certainty from the arms filling those innings. A trade or non-tender would be on the table if better options emerge, though keeping him would make sense too.
Bryan Hoeing is the opposite kind of decision: cheap, but uncertain. He made seven appearances in 2025 and then missed 2026 after flexor-tendon surgery.
Because his projected salary is close to the league minimum, moving on from him wouldn’t create much financial relief. This one is about health and roster space.
If the recovery looks good enough for a useful role, he’s an inexpensive player to keep around.
Luis Campusano rounds out the group, and his case may be the most interesting of all. He hit .265 with eight homers and a .796 OPS in 215 at-bats in 2026, which counts as a solid year by any reasonable standard.
Still, with Ethan Salas also in the mix for more reps next to Freddy Fermin, Campusano looks like the clearest trade candidate. At the same time, the Padres have every reason to hold on to him.
If they decide on a different catching setup, he could become the piece used to plug another hole. How much playing time San Diego wants to give him this winter may end up deciding everything.
In Other News...
Padres Should Let Tucker Musgrove Decide Their Next Bullpen Move
Tucker Musgroves 2026 season gave the Padres a real reason to pause before rushing to add another veteran arm. In 34 1/3 innings, he piled up 68 strikeouts, which is the kind of swing-and-miss stuff teams covet from the middle innings, even if the command still needs work. For San Diego, the question is not whether the talent is there, but whether the organization should let that talent breathe a little longer before cluttering the bullpen picture.
Musgroves walk issues make the next step less about projections and more about opportunity. Before the Padres chase another experienced reliever, they should see whether he can sharpen his command and force his way into the 2027 mix on merit. A clear chance to compete for a bullpen role would tell the club a lot about where he stands, and it might save them from buying insurance before they know what they already have. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Prospects Are Forcing A Tough Preller Trade Question
The Padres have more than a little young depth bubbling up in the upper minors, and it is starting to make their next roster decision feel less straightforward. Tucker Musgrove, Ryan Wideman, Winyer Chourio, Elliot Lascelles and Lan-Hong Su are all drawing attention, giving the organization a few different ways to think about its future rather than leaning on one clear answer.
Musgrove stands out as the one top-ten prospect who could realistically factor into the big league picture next year if he sharpens his control, which only adds to the pressure on how San Diego values its system. A.J. Preller is expected to explore trade options involving prospects at the upcoming GM meetings, so the question is not just which young players the Padres believe in, but which ones they might be willing to use to upgrade the roster now. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Roster Picture Is Changing Faster Than Fans Realize
The Padres roster picture is already shifting around the edges, and Ethan Salas remains one of the biggest reasons why. The youngest catcher ever to appear in a postseason game is expected to see more action in San Diego by 2027, even with plenty of competition at his position. For a club that has spent plenty of time balancing short-term contention with long-term development, Salas continues to stand out as a name fans should keep tracking.
He is not the only minor leaguer who could matter soon. Gutierrez has put himself into the conversation as another potential piece for next season, while Hawkins could end up in a bullpen role if departures open the door. The Padres have been evaluating recent performances closely, and the next wave of internal options may arrive faster than many around the team realize. [Read more 🡒]