One Padres free agent they can’t afford to lose and one they should let walk

The San Diego Padres' late-season surge ended at the hands of the league-best Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, but there's still a lot of positives to take away from their performance down the stretch. Remember, this team looked like a seller at various points during the summer. That they were able to clinch the top Wild Card and win a playoff series was an impressive feat on its own, even if it still fell short of the ultimate goal.

And since they fell short, it's time for A.J. Preller to do what he does best: Overhaul the roster. The offense will need some augmenting after getting stifled by the Brewers, and there's no doubt that a few more starting pitchers would go a long way toward keeping the bullpen fresh later into the season.

But before you can make upgrades, you have to assess what you have in house.

Padres must keep Michael King around at any cost after dominant playoff showing

Michael King was the Friars' ace all year long, earning the start in Game 1 of the Wild Card Round. All he did there was hold the potent Chicago Cubs lineup scoreless over seven frames, dominating the highest-scoring offense in the league. He then delivered another excellent start in Game 2 of the NLDS (one run allowed over five innings) before making a heroic relief appearance to keep the Padres' season alive two days later.

That team-first mentality is obviously invaluable, but it's the stability King provides on the mound that should earn him a new contract. He does technically still have two years and $58 million remaining on the three-year deal he signed last winter, but after his October breakout, one would think he's eyeing another trip back to free agency.

If he does elect to reach open waters again via his player option, the Padres can't get cheap. Joe Musgrove is a complete wild card after missing both of the past two regular seasons, and Nick Pivetta is in his own contract option limbo. King is the best starter on the team by a wide margin -- his next contract should reflect as such.

A.J. Preller must admit his mistake and let Casey Mize leave in free agency

From the team's best starter to their worst, it's clear that Mize cost himself a few dollars with his brief tenure in San Diego. An All-Star in 2025 who got even better in the first half this year, the right-hander imploded with the Padres to the tune of a 7.46 ERA and 7.18 FIP over 10 starts.

Even if Preller wanted him back, it's likely that Mize will be seeking employment elsewhere. Whatever Ruben Niebla and the coaching staff tried with him didn't work, and he missed the postseason with an ankle sprain. Odds are he wouldn't have made the roster anyway, but at least the injury saved the team from having to make a tough decision.

Sometimes, blockbuster moves just don't work out. The worst thing to do is double-down on your misses, so it's probably for the best if Mize and the Padres part ways this offseason.

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