As spring training kicks off on February 11th in Peoria, Arizona, the San Diego Padres are wrapping up their offseason activities and turning their focus toward the 2026 campaign. Although there have been no new major league player signings since December, the organization has still been active behind the scenes. On Tuesday evening, reports emerged that the lawsuit involving Peter Seidler’s widow, Seal Seidler, and the Seidler brothers named in her case (Matt and Bob Seidler) has largely been settled.
Details of the settlement remain confidential and may never be made public, but this significant progress lends credence to ongoing speculation about a potential sale of the team. For the past month, rumors have swirled about multiple interested buyers eyeing the Padres.
While no prospective owners have been named, it’s easy to imagine that the Padres are a hot commodity for several individuals or groups eager to own a Major League Baseball franchise. Currently, Joe Lacob, owner of the Golden State Warriors, is the only person who has publicly declared his interest in acquiring an MLB team.
Supporting these rumors further, Padres CEO Eric Gruppner revealed plans to announce big news at Fan Fest, noting that the sale process is moving smoothly and stressing that any new ownership would be committed to investing in the team’s success and maintaining its current goals.
The ongoing lawsuit was previously viewed as a stumbling block for any sale, so this settlement could accelerate an official announcement. Given how quickly talks are progressing, it’s even possible that final negotiations related to the AJ Preller deal might face delays. Fans will hope these issues are resolved well before the season begins.
Minor League Contracts:
LHP Marco Gonzalez: Invited to spring training on a minor league deal, Gonzalez can earn up to $1.5 million with incentives. At 34, he is coming off several injury-plagued seasons, including a 2024 forearm tear requiring surgery that sidelined him for all of 2025. Last seen in the majors in 2024 with the Pirates, he made seven starts with a 4.54 ERA. Previously, he posted a strong 3.48 ERA over six-plus seasons (2017-2023) as a Mariners starter.
RHP Andrew Thurman: Signed a minor league contract; the 34-year-old most recently pitched in the Atlantic League during 2025, starting 25 games. The Padres’ trade board lists him as assigned to the San Antonio Missions.
RHP Michael Flynn: At 29, Flynn reportedly inked a minor league deal. He last pitched within the Tampa Bay system as a reliever and is known for his sinker/cutter combo, throwing a low-90s fastball with a plus sweeping pitch.
RHP Riley Pint: Also 29, Pint spent all of 2025 recovering from injury while with the Guardians. In 2024, he appeared briefly in the majors with the Rockies, pitching 3.1 innings with a high 21.60 ERA. His repertoire includes a low-90s fastball, mid-90s sinker, sweeper, and slider.
Tatis Launches Foundation:
The Friday before Fan Fest, Fernando Tatis Jr. hosted a gala dinner to launch his foundation aimed at promoting financial literacy among young athletes aged 17-22 in San Diego and the Dominican Republic. Supported by many teammates and MLB, the initiative is named the Fernando Tatis Fourcourt Foundation.
Camp 44:
Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove continues his tradition of hosting pre-season team-building activities, bringing multiple players together for bonding exercises before Fan Fest for the fourth consecutive year. Musgrove mentioned spending time training at Point Loma Nazarene University and working out at both Petco Park and Mission Beach. The event includes players from various positions beyond just pitchers.
Broadcasting Rights Shakeup:
For the 2026 season, 6 to 9 additional teams will partner with MLB as broadcast collaborators following cancellations with FanDuel Sports. The Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds have ended their contracts for this year due to unpaid rights fees. Out of these, six teams have formally approached MLB to handle their broadcasts, with decisions pending for the Tigers, Braves, and Angels.
Notably, the Tigers’ owner also owns the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings, and FanDuel retains contracts with NHL and NBA teams like the Red Wings. Meanwhile, the Braves are exploring launching their own network, and the Angels have withheld comments. With these agreements combined with the seven teams already broadcast through MLB, over half the league could soon be under MLB’s direct broadcast umbrella. This widening gap in media rights revenues between richer and poorer teams adds complexity to future collective bargaining negotiations.
Padres’ Farm System at Rock Bottom:
Keith Law of The Athletic rated the Padres’ farm system as the poorest in MLB. The club traded away eight of its top 20 prospects at the last deadline, leaving 19-year-old catcher Ethan Salas as the top prospect, though he has been sidelined since April with a stress injury in his lower back. This year will be crucial in determining Salas’s growth potential as a major leaguer. While his defensive skills behind the plate are unquestioned, his offensive ceiling remains uncertain.
The rest of the prospect pool is largely inexperienced and unproven. The upcoming season should clarify the true potential of these young players.
Fan Fest Media Highlights:
During the San Diego Padres’ annual Fan Fest, local media conducted Q&A sessions with players, generating several newsworthy insights:
Craig Stammen: Early in his new managerial role, Stammen emphasized the importance of communication and building relationships. He has met with many players, including visits to the Dominican Republic to connect with Tatis Jr., Randy Vazquez, and Ramon Laureano. On the first base situation, he identified Gavin Sheets as the leading candidate, with Will Wagner and Sung-Moon as alternatives. He expressed strong belief in Luis Campusano’s chances to win the backup catching job, citing their previous experience playing together.
Michael King: King credited AJ Preller as the main reason for re-signing with the Padres, praising Preller’s vision for building a consistently winning team. He also mentioned that Yu Darvish was involved in contract negotiations and received additional compensation, suggesting the media direct questions about this to Preller.
AJ Preller: Responding to King, Preller highlighted Darvish’s commitment to the team and willingness to sacrifice salary to improve the roster. He denied any plans for layoffs and confirmed intentions to add at least a starting pitcher and some hitters before the season. While his own contract talks are ongoing, Preller stated his primary focus is on team construction and preparation, anticipating progress in the next few weeks.
Fernando Tatis Jr.: Tatis Jr. expressed enthusiasm about launching his foundation and participating in Camp 44. He reaffirmed his commitment to improving from last season’s challenges and declared his goal to become league MVP.
Jackson Merrill: Merrill candidly shared that 2025 was tough due to injuries and uncertainty but expects a more stable environment under Stammen. He aims to focus on hitting fastballs with a tailored swing approach and declared a ‘take no prisoners’ mentality toward competition, stressing that he focuses on winning against every opponent, not just rivals like the .
All players echoed the theme of “respect” for their team’s starting lineup and welcomed the younger, more approachable coaching staff. They confirmed they are actively working on their offseason training.
Fan Take:
This mix of legal, financial, and player development news signals a pivotal moment for the Padres’ future, with the potential ownership change and farm system struggles posing both risks and opportunities. Baseball fans should watch closely, as these developments could reshape the competitive balance and financial landscape of the sport in the years ahead.
