The Padres’ offseason board got a little busier on Sunday, with four more players heading into free agency as San Diego’s list of needs keeps growing. The group includes three pitchers who didn’t make much of a mark during the regular season and an infielder who was basically a non-factor defensively.
At the same time, one of the biggest decisions facing the Padres centers on Michael King. The right-hander has been projected to land a four-year, $118 million deal, a price tag that would fit an ace - but San Diego has plenty of other places to allocate money this winter.
King has made it clear he’d like to remain with the Padres. After the club’s National League Division Series exit last month, he spoke about how much San Diego has come to mean to him.
"This is where we started a family," King said. "We started our foundation here.
San Diego's been incredible for me, and it's all the way across the country from home. But now I feel like I have a second home on the West Coast, so it's been awesome.
And yeah, I hope to continue."
Another important piece of the picture is Yuki Matsui, who chose stability over the market. The left-hander turned in one of the best seasons of his professional career in 2026, posting a 1.83 ERA over an MLB-career-high 64 innings. In five postseason appearances totaling 4.2 innings, he gave up just two hits and no earned runs.
Matsui made $5.9 million in 2026 and could have opted out of the final two years and $13.5 million left on his deal. Instead, he decided to stay put.
“I wanted to come back because I believe in this team and the fans deserve a championship," he said to ESPN's Jorge Castillo. "They support this team every game and that means a lot to me and my teammates.”
Matsui is now set to make $6.5 million in 2027, with a $7 million player option for 2028.
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 Face One Bullpen Question They Cant Ignore For 2027
The Padres have already locked in three important left-handed arms for 2027, with Wandy Peralta and Yuki Matsui exercising their player options and the club picking up Kyle Harts option. It gives San Diego some early stability in the bullpen picture and keeps a familiar group intact as the front office starts mapping out the next couple of seasons.
Adrian Morejon is the one name still hanging over that plan. His contract has expired, leaving him as a free agent, and while the Padres would like to bring him back, nothing has been finalized yet. For a bullpen that has already secured several pieces, his status remains the question that could shape how complete the unit looks when 2027 arrives. [Read more 🡒]