The Padres undeterred in quest for first World Series title

The San Diego Padres were good enough to win the World Series this year. That is the sentiment of many in MLB.

The Padres certainly had a chance when they built a 2-1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. San Diego could have clinched the series at home in Game 4 on a night when the Dodgers were forced to go with a bullpen game because they were down to three healthy starting pitchers.

The Dodgers spanked the Padres 8-0, won Game 5 two nights later then eventually won the World Series. That left the Padres smarting as they were again left searching for a title that has eluded them since the franchise’s inception in 1969. 

Don’t ask Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller what he thought of the Dodgers’ run through October, though.

“I didn’t watch any games after we got eliminated,” Preller said to Draft Nation with a half-smile.

However, Preller will not dispute that the Padres were title worthy. Even after reducing their payroll by almost $100 million prior to last season and trading superstar Juan Soto to the New York Yankees following the death of beloved owner Peter Seidler.

“Why we all do this is to win a World Series and I felt we were one of a handful of teams that could have won the World Series,” Preller said. “You always think about that possibility but ultimately it didn’t happen. We have to get better.”

The Padres made it to the NL Championship Series in 2022, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies and have been to the postseason three times in the last five years. That’s usually about as long as contention window exists for a small-market franchise.

However, Seidler attempted to set the Padres up for long-term success. Thus, the franchise has multiple players on expensive contracts, including third baseman Manny Machado (nine years, $334 remaining), right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (10 years, $306 million) and second baseman Xander Bogaerts (nine years, $225 million).

It would seem the Padres will not be able to carry so many big-money deals into the next decade. However, Preller says he will be able to try to improve a team that went 93-69 in 2024 and finished second in the NL West, five games behind the Dodgers.

The Padres have holes to fill. Right-hander Joe Musgrove will miss the season following elbow surgery, catchers Kyle Higashioka and Elias Diaz are free agents and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is also on the open market.

The Padres could be the biggest challengers to the Dodgers for Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki. He is expected to be posted next month by the Chiba Lotte Marines, his team in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

“We have the (financial) parameters,” Preller said of making offseason moves. “Our group is always pretty open-minded to do what it takes to impact our team and look at different options. I don’t think it’s a situation where we’re only going to go down one road and say this is the road to go.”

Preller is always willing to make a trade, including shipping 12 prospects earlier this in multiple deals to build the 93-win roster.

Despite all the moves, the Padres still have some premium prospects including catcher Ethan Salas and shortstop Leodalis De Vries. Baseball America ranks Salas as the 17th-best prospect in the game and De Vries is No. 31.

“Our scouts do a great job,” Preller said. “Every draft, every international (signing) period, we’re able to add players. We’re able to look up and see they we still have a very good farm system. Our scouts do a great job of picking the right guys. We also have a lot of under-the-radar guys that teams always asked about that mighty not be as well-known external but are well thought of inside the game.”

Whether it’s free agency or the trade market, Preller says the Padres’ biggest goal this winter is to build a roster that can get them over the hump and deliver the first major professional sports championship since the Chargers won the AFL title in 1963.

“We have a lot of good players who have been together the last few years and I think the fact we’ve kind of had these shared experiences in the playoffs that at the end of the day is going to help us and one of these years the baseball gods are going to smile on us and maybe that ball stays fair or maybe a ball hooks foul,” Preller said.

“Those are the kind of the differences at times. I don’t think the playoffs are a crapshoot. I think you go into the playoffs knowing that there are three or four teams that really have a chance to win it and that’s how those things usually play out. It’s usually those teams that really have that good blend of pitching, defense and a deep offense that win. We’ve had teams that have been close but obviously we’ve got to figure out a way to get over the top and win a World Series.”