Padres' Preller and Stammen Review Offseason Plans and Injuries
During an end-of-season press conference, A.J. Preller, the president of baseball operations for the San Diego Padres, and manager Craig Stammen addressed the team's offseason plans and injury updates. The session included various reporters and focused on the organization's commitment to building a championship-caliber team.
Preller highlighted the need to retain key players as many, including several starting pitchers, are set to enter free agency. Notably, Michael King, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize, and Walker Buehler are among those whose contracts are expiring. Nick Pivetta's situation is also critical, as the Padres must decide whether to exercise his $14 million club option after an injury-limited season.
The discussion also touched on Yu Darvish's uncertain future following his recovery from surgery and Joe Musgrove's potential role after missing significant time due to injuries. The Padres are expected to be more proactive in their offseason acquisitions, aiming to address their roster needs before the upcoming lockout. Stammen confirmed that most of the coaching staff is likely to return, while providing updates on players Jeremiah Estrada and Gavin Sheets, both of whom are expected to be ready for Spring Training.
