AJ Preller has turned the San Diego Padres into a consistent contender after a few rough years early in his tenure. The team announced that Preller’s hard work paid off on Monday when he agreed to a long-term contract extension with the team.
Preller’s financial status and contract length were not disclosed. Unlike player contracts, management deals are not always public.
advertise
Preller called San Diego a special place and said in a statement that he was excited to bring a championship to the city.
“San Diego is a special place, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made over the past decade while knowing there’s more work to do. I’m excited about the future of the Padres and fully committed to bringing a championship to our fans and this city.”
Before the extension, Preller’s contract will enter 2026, with only one year left on the contract. Multiple Padres players expressed support for the team’s general manager when asked about Preller’s status on Sunday. Manny Machado and Michael King both played for Preler, and King said he re-signed with the Padres because of Preler.
The Padres had been expected to reach a new deal with Preller, who was hired in 2014. In October, team CEO Erik Greupner said he was optimistic about Preller becoming the team’s general manager after the 2026 MLB season. It may have taken months for both sides to iron out the details, but Gruppner’s comments proved to be accurate.
Preller has been involved in a lengthy rebuild since taking over as the team’s general manager. The Padres failed to reach the playoffs in Preller’s first five seasons with the team. But the team made great progress during that period, trading for Fernando Tatis Jr. and signing Machado to a massive 11-year, $350 million contract.
advertise
Both moves helped the Padres get back into contention. Since 2020, the team has made the playoffs in four of the past six seasons. However, getting deep into the playoffs in October is proving to be difficult. The Padres have advanced to the NLCS just once in those four opportunities, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in five games in 2022.
During his time with the Padres, Preller has become a general manager willing to make bold moves. In addition to signing Machado, Preller also spent $280 million to buy shortstop Xander Bogaerts. He also traded Blake Snell and Juan Soto in the team’s recent performance. When it became clear that the Padres would not be able to re-sign the outfielder Soto, Preller traded Soto to the New York Yankees.
advertise
Compared to these moves, it’s been a relatively quiet offseason for Preller and the Padres. The team’s biggest move is bringing King back, although recent additions German Marquez and Nick Castellanos could also help.
The Padres could certainly add another player or two, as the team is projected to win 80.7 games this season, according to Baseball Prospectus. That would put the Padres on the cusp of the playoff picture, but not a solid playoff spot. Based on Preller’s performance in previous seasons, the Padres can rest easy knowing he won’t sit idly by if the playoffs remain within reach as the season progresses. Preller has shown over the years that he will make big moves if it gives the Padres a chance at a championship.
