Bold claim: San Diego’s bullpen will make or break the Padres’ 2026 plans, and the way A.J. Preller wields depth could shape the entire offseason narrative. But here’s where it gets controversial: does the bullpen’s strength justify spending down the budget, or should the team leverage that depth to chase extra pieces elsewhere? The short answer is likely yes, they’ll try to maximize bullpen value to trade for needed roster pieces before Opening Day, yet Preller has made it clear he won’t sacrifice the unit that’s been San Diego’s greatest asset.
Rising costs this past off-season have tightened the Padres’ options when it comes to filling the rest of the roster. It appears the biggest fixed expense was re-signing starter Michael King, and with remaining funds, the most realistic route to add rotation depth and another bat is to scour the bargain bin. In Preller’s view, a frugal approach could yield cheap, productive depth without gutting the bullpen’s core.
The fundamental question is whether there’s enough money left to add pieces without sacrificing members of the current roster. Thus far, Preller has reiterated at the GM meetings that he doesn’t want to lose bullpen pieces to trade, signaling a preference to improve the team through non-roster acquisitions or minor moves rather than wholesale wholesale losses.
Pitching staff highlights from 2025 set a high bar: the Padres posted the best team ERA in baseball at 3.06. While losing closer Robert Suárez stings, the unit remains deep. Mason Miller is expected to step into the closer role, following a season where MLB Network rated him as the No. 2 reliever in the game. Jason Adam, who posted a 1.93 ERA last year and served as the primary setup man, should again anchor that role once he returns from a season-ending ruptured quadriceps tendon.
Beyond those two, San Diego’s bullpen is stocked with potential difference-makers. If the plan is to enter 2026 with five starters and eight relief arms, there are six bullpen spots to fill. The 18 pitchers currently in camp—counting both the 40-man and non-roster invitees—will be the pool from which those six come. Only Ron Marinaccio is out of option, meaning he’d need to clear waivers if he doesn’t crack the 26-man roster.
New arms and possible roles
- The Padres added right-handers Sean Boyle, Evan Fitterer, and Justin Yeager to minor league deals with Spring Training invites. Yeager is confirmed as a reliever; Boyle and Fitterer can both start if needed given their history.
- Among minor leaguers invited to camp: Manuel Castro, Francis Pena, Ethan Routzhan, and Ryan Och. Castro and Pena have shown enough to warrant consideration for a quick roster move in 2026, though most of these arms are likely to begin the season in the minors.
- Logan Gillaspie, a 2023 minor-league pickup, earned a spring invite after being retained following 2025. Injury and inconsistency have shadowed his path, but another chance could finally unlock his potential.
How the 26-man roster could shake out
- The bullpen competition centers around 13 relievers on the 40-man roster. Jhonny Brito remains on the comeback path after Tommy John surgery and is not expected to be ready until mid-season; his ultimate role—starter or reliever—hasn’t been settled.
- The Padres also added Ty Adcock and Daison Acosta to major league deals. Acosta, who spent last season with the Nationals organization, hasn’t yet debuted in the big leagues. Adcock appeared in three Mets games last year and spent the winter in the Dominican League with Estrellas Orientales.
- Garret Hawkins was added to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft and is likely to start in the minors (San Antonio or El Paso) while serving as bullpen depth for 2026.
- Long-man considerations include Bryan Hoeing, returning from an injury-riddled 2025. He’ll compete with Adcock and Marinaccio (who posted a solid 0.84 ERA across 10.2 innings in 2025) for a swingman or long-relief spot. Kyle Hart is also in the mix as a starter or long man.
- The remaining six bullpen spots promise a fierce battle among Jeremiah Estrada, Alek Jacob, Yuki Matsui, Adrian Morejón, Wandy Peralta, David Morgan, and Bradyn Rodriguez. Depending on how the staff values versatility, Adcock, Hoeing, Hart, or Marinaccio could also land in the mix as long-man candidates.
Role clarity and likelihoods
- Estrada, Morejón, Morgan, and Peralta have shown high-leverage capabilities; Matsui, Jacob, and Rodriguez can cover middle innings. Rodriguez’s potential for late-inning work adds another dimension to the decision tree.
- MLB Network’s top-reliever lists recently highlighted Miller, Morejón, and Adam among the game’s best; Morejón is widely expected to hold a high-leverage role alongside Adam and Miller.
Spring Training as the proving ground
Six weeks of spring camp are often debated, with hitters commonly needing three to four weeks. For pitchers, those six weeks become crucial as teams finalize their starters and relievers. The World Baseball Classic also compresses preparation time, making every matchup and every performance in March carry extra weight.
Be on the lookout for the border-line arms during spring games. Matsui, Peralta, and Miller will depart early for WBC duty with Japan, the Dominican Republic, and Team USA, respectively, which will stretch the Padres’ evaluation window.
The big question for fans
Who will seize the six bullpen slots, and which swingman or long-relief candidate will win? The process will be a compelling in-season subplot, and fans can follow along to see just how close the staff comes to recreating or surpassing last year’s excellence. Do you think the Padres should prioritize preserving bullpen continuity or chasing upgrades with that flexibility? Share your thoughts in the comments.
