The Padres have made their intentions obvious on the field. What still isn’t clear is where their new owners stand when the labor fight starts to heat up.
San Diego’s new ownership group arrived with the kind of energy that made it sound less like a formal introduction and more like a celebration. The message was simple: they were “all-in” on winning, and they backed it up by giving GM A.J. Preller the freedom to chase starters Casey Mize and Robbie Ray.
That gamble didn’t unfold exactly as planned, but Mize and Ray did help manager Craig Stammen log enough innings to get the Padres into the playoffs and through a series win.
Now the conversation turns to the coming lockout, and the first real hints should arrive soon. GM meetings are set for Nov. 9, and they’re expected to spark a rush of free-agent movement because there almost certainly won’t be any winter meetings after Dec. 1.
Preller figures to be involved, and he’s not likely to sit around if a deal can be made. The bigger issue is whether he’ll actually be allowed to move that way, since some owners may choose to step away from this free-agency window until rules around spending, a salary cap and other issues are settled.
San Diego’s situation makes that decision even more interesting. The roster has plenty of holes, and they’re not the kind that can be patched over with trades or bargain signings. The Padres are carrying an aging roster and a handful of bad contracts, so changes are needed no matter how the lockout plays out.
Manny Machado has already made his view known. The third baseman has said more than once that the Padres aren’t a small-market team, pointing to the recent $4 billion purchase price, and that’s hard to argue with.
The owners who have spoken publicly about the issue are pushing hard for a cap, and they’re willing to see the lockout through if that’s what it takes. That’s not unusual this early in a labor battle, when ownership groups tend to close ranks and speak with one voice.
MLB has already been laying down the ground rules through internal memos, though some of that has leaked out publicly. What would help now is hearing from owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, but if they stay quiet, their next moves will tell the story soon enough.
In Other News...
Padres Bet On Casey Mize Just Became An Awkward Offseason Subplot
Casey Mize arrived as a pitching fix for the Padres before the 2026 trade deadline, but the move never really settled into the kind of late-season boost the club had hoped for. In 10 starts, he battled through a 7.46 ERA before his year ended on the injured list with a right ankle sprain, leaving San Diego with more questions than answers after what was supposed to be a meaningful addition to the rotation.
Now Mize is back on the market, and the odd part for the Padres is that his rough stretch in San Diego may not keep him from landing well elsewhere. Some analysts still project a multi-year free-agent deal, with the Tigers mentioned as a possible fit, which turns the Padres' gamble into a tricky little offseason footnote - one that could wind up looking worse if another club is willing to bet on the version of Mize they did not get to see. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Just Got A Reminder Of How Dangerous Their Stars Are
Bleacher Reports All-MLB Team for the 2026 season offered a tidy reminder of why the Padres can still feel like a threat whenever their stars are healthy and in rhythm. Fernando Tatis Jr. earned his place after another productive season at the plate, hitting .289 with 25 home runs and 83 RBIs, numbers that reflect the kind of impact San Diego has come to expect from him in the middle of the lineup.
Mason Miller joined him on the All-MLB list after a dominant year out of the bullpen, one in which he led the National League with 38 saves and struck out hitters at a 47.4% clip over 70 innings. For a Padres club built around big names and big moments, having both Tatis and Miller recognized on that stage is the sort of credential that only sharpens the expectations heading into whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Got Pulled Into A Padres Rotation Rumor
The Padres are already being linked to one of the biggest names who could shape the winter market, and the fit makes sense from the start. San Diego is reportedly prioritizing upgrades to its starting rotation this offseason, and a Bleacher Report analyst has pointed to left-hander Tarik Skubal as a prime target, which instantly puts the club in the mix for one of the most coveted arms available.
Skubals appeal goes well beyond the obvious need in the Padres rotation. He finished the 2026 season with the Dodgers and is expected to command a record-setting contract, which means any pursuit would require serious conviction and serious payroll commitment. For a team looking to bolster its top-end pitching, though, that kind of swing is exactly the sort of move that can define an offseason. [Read more 🡒]