It is hard to imagine that Major League Baseball’s postseason is just a week old. Unfortunately, in the blink of an eye, the San Diego Padres were eliminated in the Wild Card round. Now, decisions loom for the organization on the future of Robert Suarez, Michael King and Ramon Laureano with the ballclub.
Each player has an opt-out clause in their contract that can be exercised five days after the World Series has concluded. There is no guarantee that Suarez, King or Laureano will be wearing the brown
and gold in 2026.
Neither the Padres nor the players have said much about the impending decision. Honestly, all involved will stay silent until the deadline nears. But that does not stop us from drawing our own conclusions. Each decision will have a dramatic impact on how the Friars operate in the offseason.
Suarez is expected to opt-out of his contract
Suarez holds a player option for the final two years of his deal. He is owed $16 million in salary, with incentive clauses that could add $9 million to the final total. Still, the speculation all season was that Suarez would exercise his opt-out clause and test the free agent market.
You sense the 34-year-old (35 in March) closer is seeking one final payday after recording 40 saves this past season. Clearly, the Padres acquired Mason Miller at the trade deadline in preparation for him to become the team’s next closer. The move negated any hope of Suarez receiving a multi-year contract extension from the team. If he walks, the front office could allocate those financial resources elsewhere in improving the roster.
The hope is King remains a top-tier starter in the rotation
King’s decision remains in question, as he holds a $15 million mutual option for the 2026 season. The deal comes with a $3.75 million buyout, but the Friars have not been shy about their desire to sign King to a long-term contract extension. However, the agreement may need to include incentive clauses to prevent the franchise from exceeding the luxury tax threshold.
Complicating matters was the reason why his performance level declined after sustaining a pinched nerve in his right shoulder in May. Before the injury, King was establishing himself as the team’s No. 1 starter. He had a 4-2 record with a 2.59 ERA in 10 starts.
After returning on Aug. 9, King was placed back on the injury list due to knee irritation. Upon his return to the rotation, his ERA rose from 2.59 to a season-ending 3.44. Poor second-half starts and missing significant time due to multiple injuries may cause other teams to pause their pursuit of him this offseason.
However, the Padres have not forgotten the intangibles associated with King. Whether it is him coming back on the mound sooner than expected or appreciating his professionalism in knowing his role on the team. The Friars are better when King is at the top of the starting rotation.
Could the Friars have a void in LF?
Another difficult decision is the $6.5 million club option on Laureano. A fractured finger caused him to miss the postseason. His absence caused the Padres to shuffle their outfield alignment against the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card round. If the organization decides to move on from Laureano, it will leave a huge void in left field and at the bottom of the batting order.
The Friar Faithful will need to let the opt-out decisions play out. Some may want to bring all back for another year, but that is financially impossible. Either way, it is expected to be a busy offseason in the Gaslamp Quarter this winter.
