Ranking the Padres’ biggest offseason needs from urgent to unavoidable

The Padres have an offseason that borders close to emergency maintenance. They still have a star-studded core and one of the best closers in the league. However they don’t have enough certainty around that foundation heading into the offseason.

A.J. Preller will have his work cut out for him and what looks like a limited window to finish a rather large checklist. Here is how we would rank the Padres’ offseason needs, starting with the one Preller can’t afford to finesse.

1. Starting pitching is the Padres’ biggest offseason need

Everything else is secondary until they lockdown their rotation. Michael King can opt out of the final two years of his contract, a move that appears likely after he made 32 starts, posted a 3.21 ERA and dominated in the postseason. Nick Pivetta could return, but only if the Padres exercise their option after he missed more than 130 days with a right elbow flexor strain. Joe Musgrove made it back for the postseason, though he is still rebuilding toward a full starter’s workload. Yu Darvish has not decided whether he will attempt a comeback from elbow surgery. They have plenty of possibilities, but little certainty.

Even the reinforcements acquired during the season, Walker Buehler, Casey Mize and Robbie Ray, can enter free agency.

Their first priority should be paying King. Maybe they find the next Pivetta before everyone else catches on. Asking bargains to carry a contender would probably turn this offseason into a crisis halfway through the 2027 season.

2. Padres must rebuild the bullpen around Mason Miller

Mason Miller gives the Padres the final three outs. That’s the easy part. Getting him a lead is looking less comfortable right now. Adrián Morejón is headed toward free agency after throwing a career-high 86 innings with a 2.83 ERA. Jason Adam can also become a free agent after a right shoulder strain cost him nearly three months. Both are among the club’s most important pending departures.

Jeremiah Estrada and Bradgley Rodríguez give San Diego hard-throwing options, but Morejón’s durability and ability to handle leverage cannot simply be wished onto the next reliever in line.

3. Padres need to replace Ty France and rebuild their lineup depth

Ty France produced a career year, became an important part of the lineup and now enters free agency. Austin Hays is also eligible for free agency, while Luis Rengifo’s mutual-option situation comes with the much larger complication of his recovery from a torn ACL.

The offensive core remains intact, but the Padres still need to settle first base and rebuild a bench that can do the little things and make an impact. France should be the first conversation. He wants to stay, he proved he fits and replacing his production would likely be harder than retaining it.

Unavoidable: ownership must define the budget

Payroll management is not exactly the fourth need. It's wrapped around the three needs. New owners José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones inherited an expensive roster with arbitration raises and competitive-balance-tax considerations. They have a fan base with little to no interest in watching a contender shrink itself into compliance. Feliciano and Jones require a clear baseball plan.

If they want to “live within our means,” that’s fair. But what can those “means” build?

The Padres need starters, a late-inning bridge and enough offense to replace meaningful departures. That’s the price of admission for another serious season.

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