MLB executives and insiders are raising alarming concerns about the San Diego Padres’ long-term prospects

The San Diego Padres have been one of the best teams in baseball over the past five seasons, reaching the playoffs three times with the ninth-most wins (380) since the 2020 season. But competing comes at a cost and raises significant long-term concerns in the MLB Padres prospects.

Under President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller, the Padres were one of the most aggressive and active clubs in the MLB each year. From the signing of Manny Machado to two lucrative contract extensions to spectacular moves for Dylan Cease, Xander Bogaerts, Luis Arraez and Yu Darvish, the Padres front office is known for its aggressiveness.

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• San Diego Padres 2025 Salary List (FanGraphs): 210 million dollars

However, all of this comes at the expense of both money and many of the Padres’ top prospects. That’s one reason San Diego took out a $50 million loan and reportedly suffered more than $100 million in losses, according to The Athletic. Now there are long-term questions about the franchise.

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USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported on why the 2025 MLB season will likely be a desperate year for everyone within the organization.

It starts with sustained raises for some of their best players at a time when the team already has one of the highest payrolls in the MLB. Making matters worse is that starters Dylan Cease and Michael King are free agents next year and co-starter Joe Musgrove will miss the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

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The Padres’ situation is even getting the attention of baseball players. Many believe the Padres are in dire need of a strong postseason push in 2025, due in large part to the influx of revenue. This is particularly important as the contracts awarded to Machado and Bogaerts will age poorly and cost the franchise in the long run.

“It’s scary to think about. You have major financial obligations. This could get really ugly.”

Anonymous MLB executive on the San Diego Padres’ long-term prospects and financial concerns

Because of this, San Diego is expected to be aggressive again this offseason and make one last attempt to win the World Series. However, if the Padres fail, the consequences will go far beyond firing Preller and firing or trading several other key members of the organization.