Being at the helm of a Major League Baseball franchise for an eternity is a special honor for an exclusive group of team executives. The average lifespan for a front office member is five-and-a-half years.
A.J. Preller has outlasted some of the top business leaders in the United States, as he completed his 11th season with the San Diego Padres. He has been the one constant with the revolving door at the manager’s office.
John Seidler’s vision may not align with Preller
After Mike Shildt’s surprising retirement announcement, Preller is preparing to hire the fifth manager of his tenure with the franchise. But Friars chairman John Seidler may have other changes in mind, like moving on from him and hiring a new voice for the organization.
His late brother, Peter, was an ardent supporter of Preller, but John is now in charge. You get the impression that his vision of the franchise’s direction will come into play this winter.
Preller is under contract through the 2026 season. Neither side would confirm if contract extension talks had begun. Preller felt that any discussions were a private matter between him and Seidler.
In his season-ending letter to the fans, Seidler acknowledged the disappointment of falling short of the goal to win a World Series title. He also added that the team’s Wild Card loss exposed weaknesses that will be addressed in the offseason.
Although it was not confirmed directly, we can conclude that Seidler was not impressed with Preller’s trade deadline acquisitions. Nor is he thrilled with the results from Yu Darvish, who received a six-year, $108 million contract extension in 2023. The contract has limited the front office’s ability to make a blockbuster move that puts the team into World Series contention.
Darvish received the extension after an outstanding 2022 campaign. He recorded a 16-8 mark with a 3.10 ERA in 30 starts. However, injuries have derailed his effectiveness on the mound. Darvish has rewarded the franchise with only 31 starts over the last two campaigns.
The aura of uncertainty inside the organization suggests that Peller may not have a stranglehold on his job as was previously thought.
Not all was bad during Preller’s tenure
No question, he has consistently fulfilled every directive set by past and present club chairmen. The Padres have made the postseason in four of the last six seasons and achieved back-to-back 90-win campaigns in 2024 and 2025. Preller’s success has increased attendance by filling Petco Park each night. Despite all the accolades, the Friars cannot get over the hump and secure a World Series appearance.
Preller has a win-at-all-cost mentality. He builds a quality minor league system only to deal away the top prospects for reinforcements for obvious holes on the major league roster. This season was no exception.
But he failed to get out of the Wild Card round after mortgaging the team’s future away in several trade deadline deals. His offseason should be busy, as Preller will need to bolster the roster with an infusion of talent, especially if Michael King and Robert Suarez walk. He will need to be creative for the Padres to stay relevant in the 2026 postseason chase.
His winter wishlist may include another left fielder, a left-handed hitting catcher to balance the righty-heavy lineup, and a starting pitcher or two. It will be impossible to fulfill those wishes and maintain payroll flexibility. But the list does not need to be filled out until after the conclusion of the World Series.
Yes, the Friar Faithful are frustrated with a team that has one of the largest payrolls in baseball and continually falls short of expectations. Preller cannot be held responsible for King and Darvish missing more than half the season due to injuries. But it is his job to identify the holes on the roster and seek to resolve those problems.
He should be given kudos on acquiring Mason Miller, who was superb at preserving a lead before handing it off to Suarez. But his other trades failed to improve the Friars’ inconsistent offense.
We could see several different scenarios play out over the next few weeks: Seidler may conclude that Preller is not the right person for the job. The right move could be to allow him to finish what he started over a decade ago. Do not be surprised if Preller rejects the contract extension if the terms of his new deal limit his role in building the roster.
Improving the Padres will be an inevitable challenge for any baseball executive.
