The final day of the MLB Winter Meetings remains quiet for AJ Preller and the San Diego Padres, at least when it comes to trades and free agent signings. On his final day with the media, Preller made his strongest statement in the meeting while discussing rumors surrounding a trade for Fernando Tatis Jr.
When MLB Network asked Tatis Jr. if he was untouchable, Preller responded:
advertise
“No matter how you want to look at it, we’re not talking about him. If you want to say he’s untouchable, you can say that.”
Does that stop teams from asking about Tatis? Preller: “No.”
Here’s the interview, in which Preller struck as powerful a tone as I’ve ever heard in an interview about roster trades. According to other rumors circulating during the meeting, both Jake Cronenworth and Nick Pivetta were discussed in trade talks. If the prevailing wisdom is correct and the Padres’ needs must be met with a very limited payroll, then trading from the current roster may be the only option. Clearing payroll while acquiring talent could also allow the organization to sign a free agent or two.
Padres travel to Mexico City again
Major League Baseball has announced that the Padres will travel to Mexico City again in 2026 for a series with the Arizona Diamondbacks. April 25th and April 26th will be the Dbacks’ home games and will once again be held at Alfredo Hapuhelu Stadium. On their 2023 trip to Mexico City, the Padres swept the Giants 16-11, 6-4, hitting a total of 15 home runs in a stadium above 7,000 feet above sea level. Tickets will go on sale January 19th via Ticketmaster.
advertise
Senior Lt. Preller retires
Logan White, one of AJ Preller’s most trusted lieutenants and director of player development, is retiring. He received the West Coast Scout of the Year award and announced his retirement after winning the award. He has more than 40 years of baseball experience, including 10 years as a member of Preler’s scouting team.
Preller updates Ethan Salas’ status
In a conversation with 97.3 The Fan’s Sammy Levitt, Preller gave an update on the Padres’ status in pursuing rookie Ethan Salas.
After being very aggressive in challenging the 19-year-old rookie, the Padres are now very conservative in managing his job. Salas missed most of the 2025 season after suffering a stress reaction in his lower back in April. He hasn’t played in a game since and is rehabbing at the Arizona State Complex with the goal of getting him into the fall league or winter league. Neither of those things happened, and it looks like we won’t see Salas until February. I hope Salas can really get rid of the injury troubles and grow up healthily in 2026.
advertise
Draft Article 5 Outcome
The Padres did not make any selections in the major or minor league phases of the Rule 5 draft. The organization lost two players in the 3A round. The Chicago Cubs selected third baseman Devin Ortiz in the third round, and the Washington Nationals selected RHP Eiker Huizi in the fifth round.
Keiko currently plays in winter football and is 25 years old. Ortiz, 26, played last season at Double-A San Antonio. None of the Padres’ top 30 unprotected prospects went undrafted.
“Sooner rather than later”
Although the Padres made no major moves during the meeting, Preller told Sammy Leavitt that there was progress on several fronts and that he hopes to get something done “sooner rather than later” in terms of adding depth to the team’s starting rotation.
Albert Pujols to coach Machado, Tatis Jr..
advertise
Even though Albert Pujols didn’t win the head coaching job with the San Diego Padres, he will still coach Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. Pujols was officially announced as head coach of the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic during the WBC Winter Meetings media day. This will be Machado’s third time representing the Dominican Republic in the WBC. This will be Tatis’ first time representing his country in an international competition. They will be on the same roster as Juan Soto for the event, which takes place during MLB Spring Training (March 5-March 17).
