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2025-26 Offseason thread
#41 · October 8, 2025, 5:03 pm
So much pivots around King ... coupled with how much additional payroll the team can handle.
With Pivetta opting out after 2026, Darvish turning 39 (and with recent health issues), Musgrove (can he return in 2026 to form after surgery and missing a season), Vasquez (decent but lower rotation arm) ... then ???? for a few years ... Padres have to go the extra mile to sign King who at least has the stuff to be top of the rotation. Need plus pitching to win. Probably not going to find equal talent on the FA market at a lower price. I give the signing a high probability based on need. Padres may get him by giving that "extra year" guaranteed and he may help the Padres by some backloading.
Iglesias is hard to tell ... remember he had no market last winter after a great season with the METS ... a year older and coming off a lesser season don't see suddenly a market developing. If the Padres offered him the same money at $3MM, the decision is play or retire or go to the minors again. I would give a 50/50 chance of him returning.
I see Arraez gone ... even if a reduced salary is in play the Padres could bolster the 26 man splitting that money and upgrading multiple slots. The first eight is strong enough without him. Cease and Cortes will be gone.
O'Hearn sort of depends on the market ... Padres would like (if they can afford) to bring him back and solidify 1B ... O'Hearn likely just wants a decent contract and be a full-time player. Some room to make that work ... if the Padres can stretch the budget a bit after signing King and Iglesias.
Do that and just need Machado, Tatis, and Merrill to rebound to their previous years' levels and hope Laureano continue to show as he did in 2025. Offense will be fine for the season ... especially with Laureano - Fermin - O'Hearn replacing Heyward (et al) - Diaz/Maldonado - Gurriel for the first four months. Padres are closer than we might think.
#42 · October 8, 2025, 7:39 pm
Expect most of Shildt's coaching staff to return, however, might be pressure to replace hitting coach Victor Rodriguez or one or more of his hitting assistants. Seemed like there were too many games where we couldn't string hits together or even get more than 5-6 hits in a game. Further, our record with runners in scoring position (Padres ranked 24th with an OPS of only .707) was not very good and especially frustrating when you have runners at 2nd or 3rd with no outs and can't score them for what seemed the majority of the time. Given the downtick in team power stats (ranked 29th at 31.1% of hits going for extra bases), it really put a lot of pressure on SP and the bullpen. Blame likely has to fall on someone besides the players who, may or may not, have really bought into "PETCO park" hitting strategy even though they say they have. Padres did rank #3 in striking out but I'd gladly move down from that ranking with a little more impactful hitting overall.
#43 · October 9, 2025, 5:39 pm
Not sure what his price tag would be; however, Goldschmidt was much better against LHP last season than France. As in not even close. I know he is getting older yet he has playoff experience and is still productive versus LHP.
#44 · October 13, 2025, 9:16 am
Adding to everything, we will need a new manager. Schildt has retired. 🙁
#46 · October 13, 2025, 9:26 am
Quote from lafnboy13 on October 13, 2025, 9:16 amAdding to everything, we will need a new manager. Schildt has retired.
Did not see that coming! Coming after two consecutive 90 win seasons and two playoff appearances ... with two years left on his contract.
Hopefully not health.
Hopefully not conflict with the organization.
#47 · October 13, 2025, 9:26 am
Well, that sucks, 🥹, I hope he wasn't forced into It.
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#48 · October 13, 2025, 9:40 am
No idea who would be in play for the new manager ... going to be "tricky" given the influence Manny has on this team / organization. Guessing the rest of the team would roll a bit better with most choices. Not the kind of team for a "rookie" manager ... so a seasoned manger / highly regard veteran coach would seem to be the preferred option.
New manager usually spells some changes in the coaching staff ... although Preller does seem to take a stand on hiring / keeping those he wants (e.g. Niebla).
#49 · October 13, 2025, 9:53 am
Way too early to speculate but watch out for Ryan Flaherty to be in the mix ... currently 3B coach for the Cubs and was a coach for the Padres (2023). As I recall he was highly regarded by Preller but the Cubs hired him away after 2023.
Also, Nick Hundley, now an assistant to the GM in Texas, has Padre ties and has been well regarded in the League Office and with other organizations.
#50 · October 13, 2025, 9:58 am
I think that Hundley has the inside track in SF if he wants that job. Seems to be a favorite of Posey.
I know Bochy is not going back to TEX, do you think he would want to come back, could be the guy to get us over the playoff hump, wonder how his relationship is with Preller?
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