The Padres are staring at a busy offseason, and the list of possible departures is long. After a disappointing end to the 2026 season in the National League Division Series, San Diego could be looking at major turnover from a major league roster that has 17 players who can become free agents, including several with options.
Some of the biggest questions are in the pitching staff, where a number of key arms may be on the move. Michael King is expected to opt out of the final two years and $58 million on the three-year, $75 million deal he signed last offseason after putting together a 3.21 ERA over 32 regular-season starts and then dominating with a 0.64 ERA in 14 postseason innings.
Yuki Matsui can also opt out of the final two years and $13.5 million on his five-year contract after becoming one of the club’s highest-leverage relievers, finishing with a 1.83 ERA over 64 innings. Adrian Morejon, who was arguably the Padres’ most important pitcher in 2026, is also headed toward a massive payday after logging 86 regular-season innings and another four in the playoffs.
There are still more decisions to come on the mound. Jason Adam is now a free agent after going 38 appearances with a 2.62 ERA over 34.1 innings in 2026, following a one-year, $6.675 million deal to avoid arbitration.
Wandy Peralta has a $4.45 million player option for 2027 after posting a 3.61 ERA over 77.1 innings, while Nick Pivetta’s situation has shifted into a team option after more than 130 consecutive days on the IL and an elbow injury that cost him five months. Pivetta came back strong late in the year and into the postseason, and the Padres could choose to pick up his $14 million option as they’re likely to lose most of the rotation.
Kyle Hart also has a team option, set at $2.5 million for 2027, after a 4.92 ERA over 64 innings.
Several starters who joined the Padres during the season are also set to hit the market. Walker Buehler signed a minor league contract after turning down major league offers and wound up making 32 starts with a 4.63 ERA, a performance that should draw plenty of interest.
Casey Mize, acquired from the Detroit Tigers ahead of the trade deadline, struggled badly in San Diego before landing on the IL right before the postseason, but the 29-year-old is still positioned for a strong free-agent contract. Robbie Ray, another deadline pickup from the San Francisco Giants, posted a 5.02 ERA over 43 innings in the regular season and a 7.36 ERA in 3.2 postseason innings.
Lucas Giolito, signed in April to help stabilize the rotation, had a 5.16 ERA in 29.2 innings before an elbow injury sent him to the IL in June and ended his season. His $8 million mutual option will be declined.
The position-player side includes a few notable names as well. Ty France rebuilt his value in a big way after joining on a minor league deal last offseason, setting career highs with 21 home runs and an .865 OPS.
The 32-year-old Gold Glove first baseman is in line for a major raise. Austin Hays, signed to a major league deal in August, hit .316 with an .800 OPS in 26 games before going 0-for-9 in the postseason.
Ramon Laureano, who had season-ending hip surgery in June, played 103 games with San Diego since arriving at last year’s trade deadline and hit .236 with 16 home runs and a .736 OPS.
Luis Rengifo gave the Padres a spark after signing a minor league deal in June, but he tore his ACL in late August. Miguel Andujar, who joined last offseason on a one-year, $4 million deal, is set to have his $8 million mutual option declined after batting .259 with five home runs and a .726 OPS in 74 games. Griffin Canning’s $5 million mutual option will also be declined after he posted a 5.68 ERA over 88.2 innings on a one-year, $2.5 million deal.
That leaves the Padres with a roster that could look very different when the offseason dust settles, with a long list of free agents and option decisions still waiting to be sorted out.
In Other News...
Padres May Have To Sacrifice More Than Money To Move Bogaerts
San Diegos infield picture is getting harder to sort out by the season, and Xander Bogaerts sits at the center of it. He and Manny Machado are both 34, both under contract through 2033, and both carry full no-trade protection, which means the Padres do not have much room to maneuver if they decide they need to rework the roster around their long-term payroll.
Bogaerts deal is the more awkward one to move, even before considering how tightly he is tied into the lineup. His salary alone makes a trade difficult, but the real hurdle is finding a partner willing to take him on without San Diego sweetening the return in a meaningful way. In practical terms, that could mean absorbing money, taking back another burdensome contract, or parting with young talent, which is exactly the kind of cost that turns a simple offseason idea into a much bigger franchise decision. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Face A Tough Call On Their Most Reliable 2026 Bat
Ty France gave the Padres exactly what they needed in 2026, settling in at first base and producing one of the steadiest seasons in the lineup. He hit .295 with 21 home runs, a level of run production that made him an easy player to trust over the course of the year and an even easier one to talk about once the offseason arrived.
Now comes the harder part for San Diego. France is due for a meaningful bump from the $2 million he made in 2026, and while there is clear interest in keeping the partnership going, the market can quickly complicate things. The Padres have to weigh how far they can stretch their budget against what other clubs are willing to pay, which makes this a familiar winter question for a team trying to hold onto a productive bat without losing flexibility elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Face A Bullpen Decision That Could Reshape Their Core
The Padres are heading into an offseason defined by hard choices after their National League Division Series exit, and Jason Adam sits right in the middle of it. The All-Star reliever is one of 17 potential free agents on a roster that now has to sort out what the bullpen should look like next season, especially with several familiar pieces potentially in flux.
Adam missed nearly three months with a right shoulder strain before coming back in September and contributing in October, which only sharpened the question of how much value San Diego places on keeping him in the fold. He has made it clear he wants to stay, and the Padres will have to decide whether their next move in the bullpen is about continuity or a broader reset. [Read more 🡒]