The San Diego Padres will look to remain competitive next year despite general manager A.J. Preller operating with far more limited payroll flexibility in free agency.
The club managed to retain right-handed starter Michael King, but former frontline arm Dylan Cease departed to join the Toronto Blue Jays.
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Fortunately for San Diego, the roster still features a wealth of young, emerging talent, highlighted by outfielder Jackson Merrill. The 22-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the Padres’ most valuable players, contributing both defensively and at the plate.
Merrill did take a slight step back last season, finishing with a .264 batting average, .317 on-base percentage, .774 OPS, 16 home runs and 67 RBIs across 115 games. Even so, those numbers remain strong, and the Padres continue to view him as a key piece with significant upside.
In his rookie campaign, Merrill finished ninth in NL MVP voting while earning an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award.
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San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (3)© David Frerker-Imagn Images
During Merrill’s time in San Diego, Luis Arraez has served as a veteran presence in the clubhouse, and the two have built a strong connection. Arraez remains a free agent this winter, leaving the door open for a possible reunion with the Padres, though he has yet to sign.
As the calendar turned to 2026, Merrill took to social media to reflect on the past season and look ahead to the new year. In the comment section, Arraez left a message for Merrill. “Love u my brother ❤️❤️,” it read.
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MLB free agent Luis Arraez sends a message to Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill on Jan. 1, 2026@arraezluis on Instagram
A reunion with Arraez could make sense for San Diego given the circumstances of this offseason. Preller is operating with limited payroll flexibility, which makes high-priced free agents difficult to pursue.
Arraez, however, may come at a more reasonable cost after a down year in which he posted a .292 batting average, .327 on-base percentage, .719 OPS, eight home runs and 61 RBIs.
Despite those modest numbers compared to his peak, the market remains lower than expected for a player with his track record, which includes three batting titles, three All-Star selections and two Silver Sluggers.
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At just 28 years old, Arraez could still have plenty of productive seasons ahead of him, and his ability to make consistent contact could provide balance to a Padres lineup built around young power bats.
Having spent the past two years in San Diego after being acquired from the Miami Marlins, he is already a familiar fit in the clubhouse.
Related: Padres’ Yu Darvish Sends MLB Retirement Message on Monday
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.