Anonymous MLB executive offers pointed comment to describe Padres' biggest need

After multiple off-seasons in a row of the Padres making blockbuster moves, this years lack of dealings have left Padres fans wondering what direction the club is headed. A number of underwhelming minor-league deals and minimal impact trades seem to have provided some relief to fans yearning for an AJ Preller marquee move, but with spring training quickly approaching, time is running out for the Padres to make any sort of major improvement.

A recent article from MLB.com's Mark Feinsand has reiterated the common belief shared by many Padres fans that Preller and the currently dysfunctional front office must somehow pull themselves together and make that big name signing so many are used to seeing. Adding a sense of validity to what Padres fans are hoping for, an anonymous American League executive has painted a grim picture of San Diego's current situation. When asked what the most pressing issue for the team is, they stated "Enough players to field a team."

Padres continue to lose players while new additions are few and far between

Padres fans received the news they were desperately trying to avoid on Thursday, when it was revealed that All-Star left fielder and fan favorite Jurickson Profar has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Braves. Just a couple days before that, news of Tanner Scott's 4-year, $72 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers was enough to make Padres fans start to believe the off-season has officially been lost. Add the departure of Kyle Higashioka in free agency, multiple questions regarding the state of the starting rotation, and a number of positions with limited depth, and the notion the Padres will struggle to field an entire team is creeping much too close to reality.

After banking on the addition of Roki Sasaki for much of the off-season, his eventual decision to join the Dodgers drove a stake through the heart of all Padres fans. Add in Dylan Cease and Michael King's contract status', and the Padres are grasping for a long-term solution to the rotation. Even if Cease and King are available for the 2025 season, having one-year contracts on both adds a level of stress that would much rather be avoided with a longer deal. Yu Darvish will certainly slot in behind Cease and King as the 1-2-3 options in the rotation, but the backend is still a question that needs addressing. Matt Waldron, Jhony Brito, and Randy Vasquez are San Diego's current best options to fill out the starting staff.

If the rotation is somehow not the top priority for Preller, then there are four other positions that could be. Profar's departure has left a gap in left field, Higashioka joining the Rangers has left the Padres with two sub-par options for behind the plate, and Kim Ha-Seong's status as a free agent leaves the team without a starting shortstop. If you want even more stress as a fan, include the fact that Luis Arraez is still on the trading block, and the Padres could be searching for a new first baseman and designated hitter in the coming weeks.

In recent years, filling these gaps would not have been an issue for Preller. Even last season, the signings of David Peralta, Donovan Solano, and the multiple trades that brought much needed squad depth were enough to push the Padres to their best season since 1998. Now, the combination of a very high payroll and an ownership group currently going through a power structure shake-up has the Padres in a very rough financial situation.

Looking to cut pay-roll and hopefully avoid an expensive luxury tax, adding a big-name free agent has become virtually impossible. Any chance at adding one or multiple players will most likely come from trades, which could see players like Cease, Arraez, and even those who seemed like locks to stay including Robert Suarez and Jake Cronenworth in different threads next season.

San Diego does still have the big name players who alone can make a difference on any team they are a part of, but it is the supporting cast that needs the most improvement. Minor-league deals signed with players like Mike Brosseau, Martin Maldonado, and Niko Goodrum have added the possibility of depth, but none of their futures with the Padres are guaranteed. A recent trade for White Sox pitcher Ron Marinaccio could show Preller's willingness to make trades, but the agonizingly slow off-season still sows seeds of doubt in many Padres fans.