The Padres’ winter is shaping up as a true test of the new regime, and Joe Musgrove made it clear what he expects from the fresh ownership group.
José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones officially took control of the club after MLB’s unanimous August vote, completing a $3.9 billion purchase from the Seidler family. They’ve already promised continued investment and a renewed push to bring San Diego and Baja together, but the baseball side comes with immediate pressure: a roster to sort out, a payroll that’s already enormous and a possible 17 free agents.
“They’ve got our full support, and we know that they’re all about winning this thing,” pitcher Joe Musgrove said after the team's National League Division Series exit. “So, we expect some moves in the offseason. You know: Revamp the group, get the pieces that we need and come back and make another run at it.”
That expectation lands in a winter loaded with uncertainty. The Padres are also dealing with potential lockout talks around the league, while president of baseball operations AJ Preller is staring at a long list of decisions.
One of the biggest centers on the starting rotation, which could look very different by 2027. San Diego needs to rebuild and steady that group, and Musgrove is expected to be part of it.
The right-hander is entering the final season of his five-year, $100 million contract, and his recent numbers show how much has changed since he signed it. Over that span, he’s appeared in 36 games and gone 16-8 with a 3.47 ERA, 198 strikeouts and a 1.15 WHIP in 197 innings.
His last two seasons were wiped out by injuries and setbacks, including Tommy John surgery in October 2024 that kept him out of the entire 2025 and 2026 regular seasons. The Padres brought him back from the 60-day IL just before the 2026 postseason, and he answered with three scoreless innings and four strikeouts in two playoff appearances.
San Diego’s run ended with a loss to the Brewers, the league’s best team, after the Padres battled hard but fell short. Still, the organization is looking to carry the momentum from a strong second half into a full 2027 season.
For now, though, the focus is on the offseason ahead - and on how aggressive the new ownership decides to be.
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For the Padres, the issue is less about the question itself than what it could mean down the road. King is heading into a pivotal offseason consideration, and if he chooses to test the market, he could quickly become one of the more desirable free-agent arms available. San Diego would prefer the conversation stay focused on continuity, but the fact that it has to have this conversation at all is a reminder that a good season can sometimes complicate the future. [Read more 🡒]