Status of the Padres bullpen

Gaslamp Ball analyzes the state of the San Diego Padres bullpen heading into the offseason, concluding that the unit is poised to remain a team strength despite some key changes. The Padres lost bullpen coach Ben Fritz to the Arizona Diamondbacks and face the potential departure of free-agent reliever Adrián Morejón, whose projected market value may exceed the club's budget due to needs in the starting rotation.

However, the team secured depth after left-hander Yuki Matsui opted into his $6.5 million salary for 2027 and the Padres exercised Kyle Hart's $2.5 million option. Wandy Peralta also opted in for the final year of his contract, while closer Mason Miller leads a group of arbitration-eligible arms alongside Jeremiah Estrada, Bryan Hoeing, and Jhony Brito.