Sports · Baseball · 5 hrs ago
Padres face major questions about their 2027 starting rotation
Padres president A.J. Preller and manager Craig Stammen discussed the offseason after San Diego finished with 91 wins.
The team says it wants to take the steps needed to win its first World Series, but several key players could leave in free agency, including much of the starting rotation.
Nick Pivetta’s future depends partly on a $14 million club option, after a flexor strain limited him to 42⅓ innings this season.
Preller said the Padres may discuss a revised deal or extension with Pivetta, whose contract also includes an opt-out after next season.
Yu Darvish’s return for 2027 remains unclear as he continues recovering from surgery and the team plans to discuss his situation with him.
Joe Musgrove’s role is also unsettled after injuries cost him nearly two full seasons.
The Padres will assess their options with staff and evaluators over the next few weeks as they work out how to shape the rotation.
The Padres face major uncertainty in their starting rotation for 2027, with most of their current starters potentially entering free agency.
Michael King, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize and Walker Buehler are among the pitchers expected to hit the open market.
Nick Pivetta’s future is also unclear because the team must decide whether to exercise a $14 million club option.
Yu Darvish’s return remains uncertain, and the team has not committed Joe Musgrove to a starting role.
President of baseball operations A.J. Preller said the Padres will assess their options with staff and evaluators in the coming weeks.
- Who
- The San Diego Padres, including president of baseball operations A.J. Preller and manager Craig Stammen.
- What
- The team is assessing its starting rotation for 2027 amid possible free agency and injury-related uncertainty.
- When
- The discussion took place at an end-of-season wrap-up session held the day before the article was published on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- Most of the rotation could become free agents, while injuries and uncertainty about several pitchers’ roles complicate planning.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Yu Darvish underwent an internal brace procedure and spent the following season rehabbing.
Darvish was placed on San Diego’s restricted list, removing his $15 million salary from the Padres’ books.
Nick Pivetta pitched 42 1/3 innings in the regular season and playoffs because of a flexor strain.
Preller and manager Craig Stammen held an end-of-season wrap-up session with reporters.
- Potential free-agent starters
- Michael King, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize and Walker Buehler
- Nick Pivetta club option
- $14 million
- Pivetta innings in 2026
- 42 1/3
- Darvish salary removed from Padres’ books
- $15 million
- Padres’ 2026 wins
- 91
What people are saying
We’re hoping that Nick wants to be part of that puzzle. We’re hoping that we can figure something out that makes him a part of this thing going forward.
We have so much respect for [Darvish]. We’ll sit down and kind of see where his head is at, but he’s been putting the work in to at least give himself an option.
We’re not starting the offseason like he’s definitely our Opening Day starter next year, our No. 3 starter, our eighth-inning guy.