RADIO
Padres Extend Qualifying Offer to Adrian Morejon
The San Diego Padres extended a one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer to left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon, according to the New York Post's Joel Sherman. The 27-year-old hard-throwing southpaw is expected to decline the offer and become one of the top relievers available in his prime. Morejon has until Nov. 17 to accept or decline the offer. The Padres chose not to extend a qualifying offer to first baseman Ty France. Morejon, who hits triple digits on the radar gun regularly with his fastball and has pinpoint control, had a strong 2.83 ERA over 76 relief outings this year after posting a 2.08 ERA in 2025. If Morejon declines the offer, as expected, and signs elsewhere, the Padres would receive a compensatory draft pick. The Padres will have one of the better bullpens in baseball again in 2027, even if Morejon does not return, but they are definitely interested in a reunion. Morejon also expressed a desire to return at the end of the season. "Everybody knows that," Morejon said of his desire to return. "My agent knows that. It's not really in my hands right now." Morejon could have a chance to be a full-time closer if he tests the market, though, but in San Diego, he would remain a late-inning setup man in front of Mason Miller.
Source: New York Post - Joel Sherman
Source: New York Post - Joel Sherman
Adrian Morejon in Line for Massive Contract in Free Agency?
San Diego Padres left-hander Adrian Morejon is "poised to attract offers exceeding the four-year, $72 million deal" that fellow lefty reliever Tanner Scott signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 offseason, per Dennis Lin of The Athletic. Morejon was one of the best bullpen arms in baseball in 2026, recording a 9-3 record with a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 107 strikeouts, 28 holds, and three saves across 86 innings (76 games). The 27-year-old averaged a career-high 99.1 miles per hour on his fastball and posted an excellent 30.4% strikeout rate. Morejon has primarily worked as a setup man to this point in his career. However, he has the stuff to potentially shift into being a closer, depending on where he ends up in free agency this winter.
Source: The Athletic - Dennis Lin
Source: The Athletic - Dennis Lin
Joe Musgrove's 2027 Role in San Diego is Uncertain
San Diego Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller did not commit to right-hander Joe Musgrove being a part of the team's starting rotation in 2027 when asked on Wednesday, saying that "the best spot for Joe Musgrove" will be "one of the questions for the offseason." Musgrove has not pitched in the regular season since 2024 due to persistent elbow issues. However, the 33-year-old managed to return to the mound in the 2026 postseason, making two appearances and pitching three innings. Musgrove was an effective pitcher in 2024, recording a 6-5 record with a 3.88 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts across 99 2/3 innings (19 starts). He also has one season remaining on the five-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Padres ahead of the 2023 season. Still, it appears as though San Diego may be open to using Musgrove out of the bullpen in an effort to keep him healthy in 2027.
Source: The Athletic - Dennis Lin
Source: The Athletic - Dennis Lin
Mason Miller Back From the Paternity List for Game 4
The San Diego Padres announced on Wednesday that they returned right-handed closer Mason Miller from the paternity list, taking the place on the National League Division Series roster of left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta. Miller blew a two-inning save in Game 2 of the series in Milwaukee against the Brewers and was then unavailable for the win in Game 3 at Petco Park on Tuesday night. It is great news for the Padres, who did not have left-handed high-leverage reliever Adrian Morejon on Tuesday due to a left-shoulder issue. The Padres had to go to Game 1 starter, right-hander Michael King, for the two-inning save with both Miller and Morejon unavailable. It is uncertain if Morejon will be able to pitch late in the game in another must-win contest on Wednesday in Game 4, but the Padres will at least have their stud closer back in the fold. The two-time All-Star was lights-out during the regular season, his first full season with the Friars, posting a 1.67 ERA (1.17 FIP), 0.900 WHIP, a career-high and league-high 38 saves, a career-high 129 strikeouts, and 26 walks in just 70 innings pitched. With their season on the line, expect manager Craig Stammen to be aggressive in his usage of Miller if Game 4 is close in the later innings, even though he showed command issues in the ninth on Sunday in Milwaukee.
Source: San Diego Padres
Source: San Diego Padres
Adrian Morejon Dealing With "Stickiness in his Shoulder"
San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon (shoulder) was unavailable in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers due to "stickiness in his shoulder," manager Craig Stammen told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. There is still a chance that Morejon will be available for Game 4 against the Brewers in San Diego on Wednesday night as the Friars attempt to force a Game 5 back in Milwaukee on Friday night. With Morejon unavailable and closer Mason Miller on the paternity list, the Padres' bullpen was very short on Tuesday night, but Game 1 starter Michael King came to the rescue and threw the final two innings for SD to pick up a save in the 4-3 victory. Morejon has already had two two-inning appearances in this postseason, once in the Wild-Card Series against the Chicago Cubs and again on Saturday against the Brewers in Game of the NLDS, when he allowed the game-winning home run to catcher William Contreras. The hard-throwing Cuban left-hander was one of the most effective late-inning setup men during the regular season, though, going 9-3 with a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, three saves, and a career-high 107 strikeouts in just 86 innings out of the bullpen. With Miller unlikely to be back with the team on Wednesday, the Padres could really use Morejon's left arm on Wednesday evening.
Source: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
Source: MLB.com - AJ Cassavell
Mason Miller Placed on Paternity List Ahead of NLDS Game 3
San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller has been placed on the paternity list and will not be available for his team's matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Miller blew a save opportunity in San Diego's Game 2 loss to the Brewers, allowing a walk-off, two-run single to Milwaukee outfielder Jackson Chourio. Still, the hard-throwing right-hander was one of the best relievers in baseball in the regular season. Across 70 innings (66 games), Miller pitched to a 1.67 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 129 strikeouts and 38 saves. Without Miller, San Diego left-hander Adrian Morejon could be the next man up in the ninth inning for the Padres.
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune - Kevin Acee
Mason Miller Blows Save in Game 2 of National League Division Series
San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller had a rare off outing in his team's 4-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Sunday. The 28-year-old was asked to get a six-out save and came up just short, allowing a hit, three walks, and two earned runs across 1 2/3 innings. Miller cruised through the eighth inning, but he walked three of the first four batters he faced in the ninth before allowing the game-winning two-run single to Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio. Miller was arguably the best relief pitcher in baseball this season, recording a 1.67 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 129 strikeouts and 38 saves across 70 innings (66 games). However, the flame-throwing right-hander looked more mortal in the second half of the season, recording a 2.67 ERA with a 10.6% walk rate after the All-Star break. If San Diego is going to come back from down two games to zero against Milwaukee, it will need Miller to bounce back.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
Joe Musgrove on the Padres' Wild-Card Roster
The San Diego Padres activated right-hander Joe Musgrove (elbow) from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, and he will be included on the roster for the Wild-Card Series this week at Petco Park against the Chicago Cubs, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic. It is a bit of a surprise, since Musgrove did not pitch for the Friars at all in 2026, and he made only 19 starts in 2024 before eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Musgrove was expected to be ready for the start of this season, but he suffered a setback in spring training and then was not recovering the way he would have liked once he started a minor-league rehab assignment. Because of the long layoff and the fact that he has not pitched in the majors at all this year, if Musgrove gets into a game during the Wild-Card Series, it will almost certainly be in more of a low-leverage bullpen role. The 33-year-old veteran was an All-Star in 2022 with the Padres, posting a career-best 2.93 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 30 starts. Musgrove went 6-5 with a 3.88 ERA (3.96 FIP) and 1.17 WHIP with 101 strikeouts and 23 walks in his 19 starts in 2024 before being shut down.
Source: The Athletic - Dennis Lin
Source: The Athletic - Dennis Lin
Brewers Targeting Mason Miller at the Trade Deadline?
The Milwaukee Brewers "love the idea" of adding San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller to their already potent bullpen, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Miller has been the best closer in baseball so far this season, recording a 0.79 ERA and 0.79 WHIP with 85 strikeouts and 28 saves across 45 2/3 innings (44 games). The 27-year-old is averaging 101.3 miles per hour on his fastball and has struck out a ridiculous 49.4% of the batters he's faced in 2026. Milwaukee has gotten solid work in the ninth inning from right-hander Trevor Megill, who has recorded a 2.97 ERA and 17 saves across 39 1/3 innings. However, adding Miller would clearly heighten what is already one of the team's strengths. Fantasy managers should be aware that if Miller is moved to Milwaukee or elsewhere, he could push an incumbent closer like Megill out of the ninth inning.
Source: ESPN - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN - Jeff Passan
Padres Considering Trading Mason Miller
ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the San Diego Padres are considering trading right-handed closer Mason Miller, less than a year after giving up one of the top prospects in baseball in shortstop Leo De Vries, to acquire him. The Padres would love to attach shortstop Xander Bogaerts' contract to any trade, which would severely limit the return for Miller, but Passan doesn't think any team will want to take Bogaerts. There will be plenty of teams in on Miller if SD is serious about moving him since the flamethrowing righty is a game-changer in the ninth inning. Passan lists the New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tampa Bay Rays as the best fits if Miller is actually dealt. If the Padres don't turn things around soon -- they sit 13.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West and 2.5 games out of the final NL wild-card spot with four teams in front of them -- Miller could be an ex-Padre by Aug. 3. Miller has been one of the most dominant relievers of all time in 2026, sporting a 101.3 mph fastball with a nasty slider that have helped him generate an absurd 48.4% strikeout rate in his 40 2/3 innings this year.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Mason Miller Could Become Yankees Top Trade Target
San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller would jump to the front of the New York Yankees' trade-deadline plans if he becomes available, according to The Daily News. New York has spent weeks looking for a right-handed-hitting catcher, but Miller is a different kind of target. He would help now and give the Yankees a long-term answer in the ninth inning, even if Aaron Judge's absence has them questioning how far this season can go. George Lombard Jr. is reportedly off limits, though the Yankees still have enough prospect depth to put together a serious offer. Miller has been almost untouchable, posting a 0.89 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 75 strikeouts, and 25 saves in 40 2/3 innings. He is under team control through 2029. A move to New York would put Miller in the ninth inning and push David Bednar into a setup role.
Source: The Daily News
Source: The Daily News
Should Fantasy Managers Sell High on Mason Miller?
San Diego Padres right-handed closer Mason Miller has been as dominant as any reliever we've ever seen in the first half of 2026, which begs the question: Should fantasy managers be selling high? In his 38 appearances (39 2/3 innings) in the first half of his first full season with the Friars, Miller has gone 2-1 with a 0.91 ERA (0.53 FIP), 0.78 WHIP, a National League-leading 25 saves, 72 strikeouts, and 13 walks. The flamethrowing closer is tied with Rays closer Bryan Baker for second in the big leagues in saves, just three behind the leader, Guardians closer Cade Smith. The two-time All-Star has a ridiculous 48.3% strikeout rate and just a 22.2% hard-hit rate. Most of the time when he enters a game, he makes the opposing lineup look silly with his triple-digit fastball and video-game slider. Miller ranks in the 100th percentile in hard-hit rate, the 100th percentile in strikeout rate, the 100th percentile in whiff rate, the 96th percentile in chase rate, and the 97th percentile in barrel rate, so the advanced metrics support his otherworldly dominance. The Padres most likely won't give in and trade Miller at this year's deadline, and fantasy managers should follow suit and hold him.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Jason Adam Expected to be Out Until August
An MRI exam on San Diego Padres right-handed reliever Jason Adam's right shoulder showed no major structural damage, instead just a strain in the subscapularis muscle, according to MLB.com. Adam expressed hope that he can return from the 15-day injured list in early-to-mid August after landing on the IL on July 2. The 34-year-old veteran suffered a season-ending thigh injury late in the second half last season and hasn't been quite the same for the Friars as a high-end setup guy in 2026, going 2-2 with a 2.51 ERA (4.69 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, two saves, 22 strikeouts, and eight walks in 32 1/3 innings out of the bullpen in his second full season in San Diego. In fantasy baseball leagues that count holds, though, Adam is deserving of a roster spot, as he currently ranks seventh in baseball with 17 holds. Until he's able to make his way back to the Padres' bullpen in August, both lefty Adrian Morejon and righty Bradgley Rodriguez will be tasked with more high-leverage setup spots late in games in front of flamethrowing closer Mason Miller.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Padres Place Jason Adam on Injured List With Shoulder Strain
The San Diego Padres announced on Thursday that they placed right-handed reliever Jason Adam (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 30) with a strained right shoulder and reinstated right-hander German Marquez (forearm) from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move. Adam won't be able to return until after the mid-July All-Star break. It's bad news for the Padres' bullpen, which has carried their weak starting pitching staff all year. The 34-year-old veteran doesn't have a ton of fantasy value because of his lack of save opportunities as a late-inning setup man in San Diego, but he is valuable in leagues that reward points for holds. On the year, Adam is 2-2 with a 2.51 ERA (4.69 FIP), 1.17 WHIP, two saves, 22 strikeouts, and eight walks in 32 1/3 relief innings. He's coming off a rough month of June, though, allowing seven earned runs on 15 hits (four homers) while walking three and striking out 11 in 12 1/3 innings pitched over 14 appearances. In that span, Adam had two losses, one save, and five holds. Lefty Adrian Morejon will have an increased setup role before closer Mason Miller with Adam sidelined for the next two weeks.
Source: San Diego Padres
Source: San Diego Padres
Is Adrian Morejon the Closer Handcuff to Roster in San Diego?
Across 41 innings (37 games) so far this season, San Diego Padres left-hander Adrian Morejon has recorded a 6-1 record with a 3.51 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 49 strikeouts, and one save. Padres closer Mason Miller has been one of the most dominant relievers in baseball this season, so Morejon is blocked off from consistent save opportunities in San Diego as long as Miller remains healthy. Still, Morejon is a fantastic reliever in his own right who is averaging 99.2 miles per hour on his fastball and has logged an elite 25.6% K-BB rate on the year. Should Miller go down, Morejon may be the favorite to take over the ninth inning for the Padres. In deeper fantasy leagues, Morejon may be worth rostering for both his handcuff appeal and his standalone value as a high-end relief pitcher.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
