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Adrian Morejon just gave the Padres a reunion pitch other teams may struggle to match

The best thing on the Padres’ sales deck is last year’s game tape.
ByTremayne Person
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Apr 18, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon (50) looks on during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
Apr 18, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon (50) looks on during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Adrian Morejon should be one of the most sought-after relievers in free agency. He’s 27, coming off three straight seasons with an ERA under 3.00, and we’ve seen how often the Padres have trusted him with a tight lead. He’s going to have options. The good news for San Diego is that the job he reportedly wants is the one the Padres will happily hand back to him.

Will Sammon, Ken Rosenthal and Katie Woo of The Athletic report that Morejon prefers to stay in the bullpen even though he’s drawing interest as a starter. It worked well for the Padres to have someone like Morejon in place to help get the ball to Mason Miller. So this is a welcome piece of free agency news.

It’s understandable to see why teams are curious about Morejon as a starter. A lefty with four pitches and a sinker that averaged north of 99 mph is going to get somebody thinking about him taking the ball regularly as a starter. Morejon posted a 2.83 ERA and struck out 30.4 percent of the batters he faced over a career-high 86 innings in 2026.

However, a club that sees Morejon mainly as a rotation answer now would have a lot of convincing to do if they want to change his mind.

The Padres already have $23.15 million on the table

Morejon has until Nov. 17 to decide on San Diego’s one-year qualifying offer. That’s $23.15 million for a single season in a bullpen he knows. It’s hard to walk away from that kind of agreement, especially for a reliever who dealt with a shoulder issue in October. A strong multiyear offer could still be more appealing. He’s currently projected at five years and $80 million, which gives you an idea of how much guaranteed money Morejon could be weighing against one big payday.

If we’re the Padres, we’re talking about a multiyear deal now. The qualifying offer gives Morejon a way back for 2027. A longer deal lets San Diego make the pitch that actually sets it apart. They know which outs they want him getting because they’ve spent three seasons handing him the ball for them. Another club can offer Morejon a closer and possibly a bigger check. The Padres can show him the exact job they’re paying him to do. A.J. Preller should find out what it costs to keep him in it.

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