San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller announced Thursday the team signed relief pitcher Ty Adcock to a major league contract. On the surface it looks like a general manager looking to add depth to his bullpen and make the strength of his team stronger, but could it mean something more?

The finances in San Diego have been the topic of discussion each of the past two offseasons. The Padres do not talk specifics when it comes to their salary expectations or budget, but one can speculate the organization would like to limit luxury tax penalties. Considering their current payroll is expected to be at or near $194 to $201 million according to an Oct. 28 report from Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball the Padres do not seem eager to add significantly to that number.

Advertisement

With an uncertain financial situation in San Diego, we have to speculate about how Preller intends to address the various needs the team has heading into the 2026 season. There is no clear first baseman on the team, three starting pitchers will either no longer be on the team or will be unavailable, and the bench is incomplete. That is a shopping list that can get expensive in a hurry, especially considering former Padres pitcher Dylan Cease landed a free agent contract with the Toronto Blue Jays at $210 million.

From that perspective Preller will have to address the needs of the team through free agency and more likely, trades. The problem with potential trades is that Preller has been uber aggressive each of the past two trade deadlines and it has depleted the farm system. The cupboards are not bare, but there are no prospects beating on the door to make the San Diego or any other MLB roster.

The finances and lack of trade pieces at the lower levels of the organization bring us back to the signing of Adcock. The Padres are already expected to have the best bullpen in baseball, and the 2026 season has not even started. Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon have been talked about as potential rotation additions, but like most news in San Diego, their willingness to make the move or the team’s willingness to move them to the rotation are not known.

Jason Adam is recovering from a ruptured quadriceps tendon, which ended his 2025 season and required surgery and when he will return has yet to be determined. Jeremiah Estrada has an electric fastball but was susceptible to the home run ball last season, and he struggled against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wandy Peralta had a solid season for the Padres and Yuki Matsui had up and down performances for most of the season. David Morgan had a good year and showed promise. Bradgley Rodriguez, while a bit unrefined, has the arm talent that could make him a future closer. Add to this group, Kyle Hart, Jhony Brito, Bryan Hoeing, Alek Jacob, Ron Marinaccio and it is easy to see one of a few things could be true.

Advertisement

The addition of Adcock could simply be adding to a strength, knowing the baseball saying is, “you can never have too much pitching.” It could mean that Miller or Morejon or both are going to prepare to start the season in the depleted San Diego rotation. Or it could be Preller and the Padres are stocking up with the intent of trading bullpen arms to acquire needed players without spending much money in free agency.

Whatever Preller and the Padres decide to do, it seems the MLB Winter Meetings next week will give the Friar Faithful some insight as to what direction the organization is going to take this offseason.