Padres To Give A.J. Preller Flexibility With Payroll Going Into Winter

The San Diego Padres executive chairman, Ron Fowler, has stated in an email that first year General Manager A.J. Preller will have payroll flexibility for whatever moves that he wants to make during the off-season. Fowler stated in his email to MLB.com that the team has placed a “placeholder amount” for the 2015 payroll, but he also states that the club is willing to stretch that number based on the moves that Preller wants to make this winter.

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Fowler didn’t say whether the payroll is going to be higher than the $90 million dollar payroll that the team has had to work with in the past, but the team has stated that they intend to grow the payroll over time. The team does have $41 million locked up, with the top 2 players to make the most money next year being Joaquin Benoit and Carlos Quentin, who each make $8 million next year. Several players are also set to be arbitration-eligible, like pitchers Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy.

The team has had an eye on Cuban Yasmany Tomas, but with their payroll tied up with other players, the question remains as to whether or not they will be able to sign him. The biggest contract for a Padres’ player, was Jake Peavy who signed a 3-year,$52 million dollar extension after his 2007 NL Cy Young Award. Will the team be able to sign Yasmany Tomas? They have certaintly had their eye on him, having worked him out twice privately, but we will have to wait and find out.

Keep the Faith.