San Diego Commits To GM A.J. Preller With Multi-Year Extension

The San Diego Padres have tied down General Manager A.J. Preller with a new multi-year contract, making him the second-longest tenured front office executive in baseball, right behind the Yankees’ Brian Cashman.

A Proven Track Record

Preller’s leadership has paid off, with the Padres reaching the postseason four times in the last six years – a stark contrast to the 13-year playoff drought that preceded his hiring in 2014. He’s made savvy moves, landing big-name free agents like Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, and engineering trades that brought in stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto.

Not everything has been smooth sailing, though. Preller was suspended for 30 days back in 2016 after MLB investigated the team’s handling of medical information in a trade with the Red Sox. But it’s hard to argue with the results: the Padres have posted back-to-back 90-win seasons for the first time in franchise history, and set attendance records at Petco Park for three years running.

A Vote Of Confidence

Padres president John Seidler gave Preller a glowing endorsement, saying, “Under his guidance, our organization has continued to invest in elite talent at both the major and minor league levels, while building a strong baseball operations group, scouting, and player development system. We’re confident he’ll continue to relentlessly pursue our first World Series championship.”

It’s a bold bet on a guy who’s clearly got a vision for the team – and the chops to make it happen. Don’t be surprised if the Padres make some noise in the postseason soon.