The San Diego Padres are making a late-season run at a wild-card spot, winning nine of their last 10 games. However, they are still five games back with six games left to play, so it’s unlikely they will make it. Nevertheless, their performance has been impressive considering how far back they were a few weeks ago.
GM A.J. Preller’s position may be in jeopardy as the team is projected to miss the postseason. As a result, there will likely be changes to the roster. It has also been reported that the Padres are planning to reduce their player payroll by approximately 20% to around $200 million in 2024.
According to sources, the Padres’ revenue has doubled since 2018, but the exact amount is not known. The team’s payroll has increased significantly from $104 million in 2018 to approximately $253 million in 2023. However, due to non-compliance with MLB regulations regarding their debt service ratio, the team plans to have player commitments of around $200 million in 2024.
The Padres had a franchise record payroll of $248.9 million this season. Trimming nearly $50 million from the payroll in one offseason is a substantial reduction, but it will free up money from expensive veterans like Josh Hader and Blake Snell. However, the team will need to find replacements for Hader and Snell, which will not be an easy task.
Currently, the Padres have $155.3 million committed to 12 players for next season, excluding arbitration raises. Their payroll could be further impacted by potential arbitration for Juan Soto, who is making $23 million this year and could see his salary increase to $30 million next year.
Some argue that the Padres should maintain their current roster for next season. Despite their struggles in one-run games and extra-inning games, they have a strong core with players like Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr.
