Padres Extend GM A.J. Preller's Contract Amid Franchise Uncertainty

The Padres have signed their longtime president of baseball operations to a multiyear extension, providing stability during a tumultuous offseason.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The San Diego Padres have agreed to a multiyear contract extension with A.J. Preller, their president of baseball operations and longtime general manager. The extension comes amid a tumultuous offseason for the Padres, which included the resignation of manager Mike Shildt, the hiring of a new first-time manager in Craig Stammen, and the potential sale of the franchise.

Why it matters

Preller's extension provides some much-needed stability for the Padres, who have enjoyed unprecedented success and relevance in recent years under his leadership. However, the team still faces significant financial and roster challenges as they look to build on their back-to-back 90-win seasons and return to the playoffs.

The details

Preller, who has been the Padres' president of baseball operations since 2014, had one year remaining on his previous contract. The new extension, the terms of which were not disclosed, will keep him in San Diego for the foreseeable future. This comes after a busy offseason that saw the Padres accept Shildt's resignation, hire the inexperienced Stammen as their new manager, and navigate the potential sale of the franchise by owner John Seidler.

  • In 2024, the Padres publicly extended former manager Mike Shildt through the 2027 season.
  • In October 2025, the Padres quietly extended CEO Erik Greupner through at least the end of the 2030 decade.
  • The Padres won 93 games in 2024, their most victories in over a quarter-century, before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series.
  • In 2025, the Padres won 90 games before falling to the Chicago Cubs in the wild-card round.

The players

A.J. Preller

The Padres' president of baseball operations and longtime general manager, who has overseen the team's rise to national relevance in recent years.

John Seidler

The Padres' chairman, who had previously stated the team would continue pursuing their first World Series title during a potential sale process.

Mike Shildt

The former Padres manager who resigned from his position, citing health reasons as the primary reason.

Craig Stammen

The Padres' new manager, who is a former reliever and has no prior professional coaching experience.

Erik Greupner

The Padres' CEO, who was quietly extended through at least the end of the 2030 decade.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Padres will need to address obvious needs for starting pitching and power hitting, as their payroll is projected to be $201 million and they have limited financial flexibility due to several nine-figure player contracts.

The takeaway

Preller's extension provides stability for the Padres, who have enjoyed unprecedented success and relevance in recent years under his leadership. However, the team still faces significant financial and roster challenges as they look to build on their back-to-back 90-win seasons and return to the playoffs.