The Padres’ bullpen decision is about more than just two relievers. It’s a test of how far ownership is willing to go to keep a roster together while still chasing help for the rotation and lineup.
Adrian Morejon and Jason Adam both sit in the middle of that conversation, but Morejon looks like the priority. He’s 27 and heading toward free agency after giving the Padres a weapon who can do more than just clean up the ninth-inning leftovers.
He can handle tougher spots, and that kind of versatility tends to cost real money on the open market. Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter projected Morejon for a five-year, $90 million deal.
That kind of price tag would force the Padres to make a choice, but the expectation is that they’ll try hard to keep him. They developed him, found the role that fits him best and now have to decide whether they’re willing to pay for the finished version. Letting another team cash in on those prime years would hurt more than watching a familiar face leave for nothing.
Adam remains part of the picture, too. Bringing him back would give Craig Stammen more options and help preserve some of the bullpen structure the Padres had in 2026.
But the cost adds up fast. Some outlets have pegged Adam at about $10 million per year, and when that’s stacked on top of Morejon’s projected $18 million annual average, the total comes out to roughly $28 million a season for two setup arms.
There’s a cheaper path, of course. Keeping Adam and letting Morejon walk would soften the blow and keep some continuity in place. But then the Padres would still need to find someone else to cover Morejon’s work, and that’s not a small hole to fill.
If both relievers leave, the burden on A.J. Preller gets much heavier. The Padres would need internal arms to step into bigger roles, outside additions to work, and Stammen would have fewer proven options while he tries to sort out the late innings.
The clearest path is for San Diego to make its biggest bullpen push for Morejon first, then see whether Adam’s number still leaves enough room to attack the rotation. Getting both back would be a strong outcome if ownership is also willing to fund the starters this team needs.
If neither returns, the Padres would be trying to rebuild the bullpen while also patching the rotation. That would leave Miller with fewer reliable arms in front of him, and it would be a lot to unravel in one winter just to trust Preller to piece it all back together.
In Other News...
Padres Just Put A Huge Adrian Morejon Decision In Play
The Padres have put Adrian Morejon in a familiar but meaningful spot by extending him a qualifying offer, a one-year deal worth $23.15 million. It is one of the more notable decisions on the clubs offseason board, especially for a left-hander who has settled into an important relief role and now has a clear financial fork in the road.
Morejon is one of eight players around the league to receive that kind of offer before the Nov. 17 deadline to accept or reject it, and the choice carries real weight for both sides. For San Diego, it keeps the door open on a pitcher who has become part of the late-inning picture, while also leaving his next move and long-term future very much in play. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Face A Tough Ramon Laureano Decision In Left Field
The Padres have a busy winter ahead, and the left-field picture is part of it. Along with decisions on Michael King, Adrian Morejon, Walker Buehler and Nick Pivetta, the club also has to sort out what to do with Ramon Laureano, who gave them a useful option in the outfield before undergoing hip surgery.
Laureano is expected to look for a one-year deal, which could make him a fit for a team trying to preserve flexibility while keeping the roster competitive. San Diego also has younger alternatives in Samad Taylor and Dustin Harris if it decides to take a different path, so the choice in left field may come down to how much certainty the Padres want versus how much room they want to leave themselves for the rest of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Suddenly Face A Costly Michael King Decision
The Padres are already staring at another winter of roster churn after losing four players to free agency, including three pitchers and an infielder, and the pressure on the front office is only rising. One of the biggest names in that mix is right-hander Michael King, who has emerged as a key free agent after a strong run in San Diego and has made it clear he would like to stay put.
For a club that has spent plenty of time trying to stabilize its pitching staff, keeping King would go a long way toward preserving some continuity. There is at least one bit of good news on that front: left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui has opted not to exercise his out clause and will remain with the Padres for 2027, with a player option for 2028. Even so, King's situation looms as one of the more important decisions in the Padres' offseason. [Read more 🡒]