Padres Eliminated by Brewers, Face Pivotal Offseason Under New Owners — SkimNews
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- The Padres were eliminated by the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 in the NLDS after a Game 4 loss (MIL 3, SD 1), marking their third consecutive year of NLDS or Wild Card Series exits.
- The Padres went 91-71 in the regular season and posted an MLB-best 41-18 record after July 23, finishing sixth in baseball in wins despite the early postseason exit.
- José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones purchased the Padres from the Seidler family for $3.9 billion earlier this year, a then-record MLB franchise sale price since surpassed by the Los Angeles Angels at $4 billion.
- The Padres already have $196 million committed to 2027 payroll, the eighth-highest in baseball, with key free agents including Adrian Morejon, Ty France, and potentially Michael King and Nick Pivetta.
- The Padres could lose all five of their top starting pitchers this offseason, as Casey Mize and Robbie Ray were trade-deadline rentals, Walker Buehler is on a one-year deal, King holds an opt-out, and Pivetta has a team option on his remaining two years and $28 million.
- A.J. Preller received a contract extension in February and remains baseball's second-longest tenured head of baseball operations behind Brian Cashman, though the source notes this offseason may be his final chance to build a World Series winner.
- Mason Miller is under team control through 2029, and while the author expects trade interest from teams including the Yankees, Braves, Red Sox, Cubs, Mets, Phillies, and Dodgers, predicts San Diego will ultimately keep him.
Why it matters: The Padres face a pivotal first offseason under Feliciano and Jones, who publicly declared they are 'all in' on winning the World Series but inherit $196 million already locked into 2027 payroll. With up to five starters headed toward free agency or opt-outs, Preller must either spend aggressively to retain rotation pieces, develop internal replacements, or entertain trading closer Mason Miller, whose departure could be the only realistic path to restocking multiple roster spots at once.
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