With Luis Arraez With him leaving for San Francisco on a one-year deal yesterday, it’s official that the Padres will have a new face early this year. As noted by Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Gavin Sheets figures to get the first crack at the San Diego position this year.
Sheets, 29, performed well in his first year with the team last season. In 145 games, Sheets slashed .252/.317/.429 with a wRC+ of 111. Sheets’ overall production was dragged down by atrocious defensive numbers in the outfield, however, and he may be returning to his natural habitat for the first time since working on the farm in the White Sox organization (where he was banned. Jose Abreucausing him to go the wrong way to the field) could help him bring back some defensive value and build solid 2025 numbers to become a full-time contributor.
While the improved defense due to the move from the outfield to the starting spot would be helpful, it won’t fix the separation of the big platoon Sheets had last season. He posted a 119 wRC+ against righties while struggling to the tune of an 89 wRC+ against pitching with the same arm. That difference was most evident in the energy department; Sheets hit 17 of his 19 homers against righties in 2025, and 37 of his 48 extra-base hits overall. Getting the right helper from Spreadsheets at the door would make a lot of sense, with Paul Goldschmidt, Franceagain Rhys Hoskins among the right-handed first baseman still available on the market.
Such additions may also involve DH mixing, which is not fixed as the Spreadsheets move forward. Offseason signing Sung-Mun Song and rookie Is Wagner both can be replaced, although they will also have the opportunity to handle some basic tasks behind Spreadsheets as needed. Song’s versatility as an infielder capable of handling first, second, or third base creates an opportunity for a DH hole in the lineup to be used for regular rest at other positions. Manny Machadofor example, he can get days off at DH while the song fills him in at the hot corner. Xander Bogaerts can see time in DH, with Jake Cronenworth able to give him breath in a short time as needed.
Sanders writes that using DH to rest is part of the newly minted manager’s plan Craig Stammenbut Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune also reports that president of baseball operations AJ Preller hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a meaningful addition to the DH mix. If the Padres were to sign Sheets’ teammate, that player could certainly field a DH combination against right-handed hitters while drafting Sheets at first when the lefty is on the mound, thus opening up the DH to rest veterans like Machado and Bogaerts.
With all that said, it at least sounds like the most important signing the Padres make in the coming weeks is Preller himself. While Preller admitted to reporters (including Heilbrunn) that he hopes to add impact players to the roster in the coming weeks, as he has done in years past when he made additions such as Nick Pivetta again Dylan Cease toward the end of the offseason calendar, he also noted that his focus on the roster caused his own contract to fall by the wayside.
As reported by Heilbrunn, Preller told reporters that an extension before his final season under an unexpired contract is part of it. “to him,” and that while the parties have not reached a “win-win deal” He hopes that something will happen soon. That’s a different tone than the one reported back in November, which suggested Preller was in talks about a new contract with the team and that a deal could be days away. Obviously that didn’t come to fruition, and now it seems at least plausible that Preller could enter 2026 without any security over his future.
It’s a very serious situation for San Diego’s front office leader considering previous reports of behind-the-scenes friction between Preller and team CEO Erik Greupner. It will be worth watching Preller’s status until the extension is revealed, as he would certainly be a coveted talent for rival franchises around the league if the Padres decide to release him. Preller took over in San Diego in the final weeks of the 2014 season, and while the Padres have only made the playoffs four times under his leadership, the team’s body of work over the past six seasons represents the most successful baseball in franchise history.
