A.J. Preller’s offseason to-do list keeps getting longer, and the Gavin Sheets situation may have pushed another item near the top.
The Padres already have work to do around the roster. They need another bat in the starting lineup and help on the pitching side, too. Now they may also need to rethink how they handle their bench, because Sheets’ foot injury has become a real question mark heading into 2026.
Sheets missed most of September because of that injury, which naturally set off alarm bells among fans. He was coming off a massive 2025 season that included 19 home runs, 71 RBIs and 28 doubles, all career highs. In 2026, he was still productive, but not at that level - and not fully healthy either.
The biggest issue now is what this foot problem means going forward. Sheets is 30, and injuries like this have not traditionally been kind to big left-handed hitters. Add in the fact that he does not seem likely to have surgery this offseason, and the uncertainty only grows.
That leaves San Diego with a decision: bet on Sheets as the main left-handed bench option, or look elsewhere and reduce the risk. Given the options that could be available, the safer play may be to explore the free-agent market.
Two names fit the kind of production the Padres could be chasing. Nathaniel Lowe would make sense if San Diego wants a first baseman off the bench. Cedric Mullins is another option if the club prefers an outfielder who can spell the starters a couple times a week.
Both are veteran left-handed bats who wouldn’t need everyday roles, but could still contribute when called on. Lowe finished with 39 extra-base hits in 126 games. Mullins ended the regular season with a five-game hitting streak, along with 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases.
Mullins had a down year at the plate, which could keep his price more manageable, but his defensive metrics remained elite and his overall track record still makes him worth a look. Lowe, meanwhile, has been off the injured list since April 2024. Mullins last landed on the IL in May 2025.
Sheets has never carried a true injury-prone label, but the lack of surgery this offseason leaves a lingering concern about how often he’d actually be able to stay on the field in 2026. That’s why the Padres may decide the answer to their left-handed bench bat problem is somewhere other than the player who held that role this year.
In Other News...
Preller Just Gave Padres Fans An Early Offseason Reality Check
A.J. Preller and Craig Stammen used a recent video conference with reporters to give Padres fans a first look at what this winter could feel like in San Diego. The conversation touched on a handful of key roster matters, including contract options for Nick Pivetta, the possibility of Yu Darvish returning, and the uncertain status of Joe Musgrove, while also offering a broader glimpse at how the front office wants to approach the offseason after a season that again left plenty to sort through.
Preller also said the club wants to be more proactive in player acquisitions, which is exactly the kind of line Padres supporters will file away as they wait to see how aggressively the team operates. There were updates on reliever Jeremiah Estradas throwing program and outfielder Gavin Sheets injury management, and most of the coaching staff is expected back next season, though the exact shape of any staff changes still remains unclear. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Fans Have Every Right To Be Angry Over Manny Machado Snub
Manny Machado put together the kind of season that usually makes Gold Glove recognition feel routine. At third base, he ranked at the top of qualified National League players in Outs Above Average and Fielding Run Value, the sort of defensive resume that tends to speak for itself when the hardware conversation starts. For Padres fans, it was the familiar mix of watching Machado anchor the left side of the infield and assuming the national awards would catch up to what was obvious on the field.
Instead, Machado was left off the Gold Glove finalist list, with Alex Bregman, Javier Sanoja and Max Muncy getting the nod at third. The omission is a reminder that the award is not decided by advanced metrics alone, since manager and coach voting plays a major role alongside the SABR Defensive Index. For a player whose defense was strong enough to headline the position all season, the snub leaves San Diego with a fair gripe and a lingering question about how the voting process weighed his case. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Already Have A 2027 Rotation Problem Preller Can't Ignore
By the time the Padres get to 2027, the shape of the rotation could look a lot sturdier on paper than it does in practice. Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Michael King, Nick Pivetta and Randy Vsquez are all tied to that season in some form, giving San Diego a head start on roster planning and a base of names that would look familiar to the front office.
But the hard part is knowing how much of that group can actually be counted on. Injuries, opt-out clauses and simple performance uncertainty leave enough doubt that the Padres may have to keep searching for more pitching help well before 2027 arrives. For A.J. Preller, it is the kind of long-view problem that can quietly become a major one if the organization does not keep layering in options. [Read more 🡒]