Padres Bet Big: What A.J. Preller’s Long-Term Deal Means for the Franchise’s Bold Future

A.J. Preller’s journey with the San Diego Padres hasn’t exactly been a stroll in the park — a couple of rocky seasons tested the mettle early on. But here’s what’s wild: from those shaky foundations, he’s managed to morph the Padres into a team that reliably contends year after year. And the front office, clearly seeing the value, locked him down with a long-term extension just this past Monday. Now, they’ve kept the nitty-gritty of the deal under wraps — no big surprise, given front-office contracts tend to fly under the radar compared to player deals. What I find truly captivating is Preller’s deep-rooted pride in the city and his unmistakable drive to etch a championship in San Diego’s history books. Before this new deal, he was inching toward 2026 with just one year left on his contract, but the overwhelming support from the players — from Manny Machado to Michael King — hinted something special was brewing. Preller’s tenure, starting back in 2014, was marked by a hefty rebuild, with missteps in playoff qualifications early on. Yet, through savvy trades and those headline-grabbing contracts, he’s nudged the Padres back into the spotlight. It’s fascinating — the boldness, the willingness to swing for the fences, trading for stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., signing heavyweight Manny Machado to that jaw-dropping 11-year, $350 million contract, and shelling out $280 million for Xander Bogaerts. Yeah, there were big moves, then some calculated trades — Blake Snell, Juan Soto — even trading Soto off when re-signing him seemed off the table. Now, while this offseason felt a bit quieter — mainly re-signing King with help from newcomers like German Marquez and Nick Castellanos — the team’s sitting just on the edge of playoff territory. According to Baseball Prospectus, they’re projected to grab around 80.7 wins. Pretty tantalizing. If the season creeps toward a postseason berth, you better believe Preller won’t be twiddling his thumbs. Over and over, he’s shown he isn’t afraid to make those bold, splashy moves critical for a championship run. So buckle up, Padres fans — the ride’s far from over. LEARN MORE

After a couple rough years early in his tenure, A.J. Preller has built the San Diego Padres into a consistent contender. Preller was rewarded for those efforts Monday, agreeing to a long-term extension with the franchise, the team announced.

The finances and length of Preller’s contract were not disclosed. Unlike player contracts, front-office deals aren’t always made public.

Preller called San Diego a special place, and said he was excited to bring a championship to the city in a statement.

“San Diego is a special place, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made over the last decade while knowing there’s still more work to be done. I’m excited for the Padres’ future and fully committed to bringing a championship to our fans and this city.”

Prior to the extension, Preller was set to enter 2026 with only one year left on his contract. When asked about Preller’s status Sunday, multiple Padres players showed support for the team’s general manager. Both Manny Machado and Michael King went to bat for Preller, with King saying he re-signed with the Padres due to Preller.

The Padres were always expected to work out a new deal with Preller, who was hired in 2014. In October, team CEO Erik Greupner said he was optimistic Preller would be the team’s general manager beyond the 2026 MLB season. It may have taken a few months for both sides to work out the particulars, but Greupner’s comments turned out to be accurate.

Preller engaged in a pretty lengthy rebuild upon taking over as GM. The Padres failed to make the playoffs in Preller’s first five seasons with the team. But the team made strides during that period, trading for Fernando Tatis Jr. and signing Machado to a massive 11-year, $350 million contract.

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Both moves helped the Padres hop back into contention. Since 2020, the team has made the playoffs in four of the past six seasons. Making deep postseason runs in October, however, has proven difficult. The Padres advanced to the NLCS just once in those four chances, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games in 2022.

During his tenure with the Padres, Preller has emerged as a general manager who is willing to make bold moves. In addition to signing Machado, Preller also spent $280 million on shortstop Xander Bogaerts. He’s also traded for Blake Snell and Juan Soto during the team’s recent run. Preller later traded Soto to the New York Yankees once it became clear the Padres wouldn’t be able to re-sign the outfielder.

Compared to those moves, it was a relatively uneventful offseason for Preller and the Padres. The team’s biggest move was bringing King back, though recent additions like German Marquez and Nick Castellanos could also help.

The Padres could certainly use one more addition or two, as the team is projected to win 80.7 games this season, per Baseball Prospectus. That would put the Padres right on the cusp of the postseason, but not firmly in a playoff spot. Based on how Preller has approached previous seasons, the Padres can rest easy knowing he won’t sit idly by if the playoffs are still within grasp as the season progresses. Over the years, Preller has shown he’ll make the big move if it will give the Padres a shot at a title.