Front Row Seat: Preller Watch
The San Diego Padres can't move forward until we know if A.J. Preller is a part of their future.
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Darren Smith
San Diego Padres
Amid another Padres manager search, GM A.J. Preller’s future remains uncertain - The Athletic
This week, as the franchise contended with the fallout from Mike Shildt’s resignation as manager and reports of his conflicts with coaches and others in the organization, team sources indicated that another contract extension for Preller is possible but not guaranteed.
His situation stands in contrast to another leader of the franchise. In 2024, CEO Erik Greupner, who already held a small stake in the team, quietly received a multi-year extension while working under interim control person Eric Kutsenda, according to multiple people inside and outside the organization. Greupner, like Preller, had already been extended by late owner Peter Seidler through the 2026 season. Greupner’s equity in the club and his latest extension, which was struck during a year of 93 wins and record attendance, had not been previously reported.
‘A really attractive job’: A.J. Preller already receiving calls about Padres’ vacant managerial position - San Diego Union-Tribune
A.J. Preller is expected to receive an extension offer this offseason, according to sources within the Padres organization.
The Padres’ president of baseball operations, however, does not believe his contract status should have any bearing on a manager search that’s already begun.
In fact, interested parties began reaching out to Preller shortly after manager Mike Shildt announced Monday that he was walking away from the job with two years remaining on his contract.
Padres Scout Gets Honest About Working For AJ Preller - Sports Illustrated
"He really, really kind of brings everything to the table," Jon Daniels, the former Texas Rangers GM who hired Preller to his previous job, said in a 2014 interview. "A tremendous talent evaluator, and I think that's where a lot of the media, I've read, is focused. I think that's accurate. That's one of the more unique skills in the game.
"I think what that misses [is] how gifted he is kind of building a staff, hiring people, creating a philosophy and getting everyone to buy in and feel good about it."
As long as his hires buy in to the excitement, insanity, and exhaustion that Preller stirs, don't expect an internal revolt.
MLB Playoffs
Dodgers Go up 3-0 as Search Parties Struggle To Locate Milwaukee Offense - FanGraphs
Unfortunately for the Brewers, and for neutrals hoping for this series to go six or seven exciting games, that wasn’t in the cards. The Dodgers put a run on the board within their first two batters of the game, and while Milwaukee tied it the next inning, Glasnow shut the door afterward. A couple singles, a walk, and a throwing error in the sixth inning were all the Dodgers needed to win the game, 3-1, and take a 3-0 lead in the series. You already know what the odds are at this point.
With the Return of Mad Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays Even the ALCS - FanGraphs
Scherzer, who had last pitched in a game on September 24, added to the Mad Max lore, displaying his legendarily competitive fire in the fifth inning. With two outs, a runner on first base and Toronto leading 5-1, manager John Schneider went to the mound to talk to Scherzer, who growled and chased the skipper away, struck out Randy Arozarena on a curveball in the dirt, then retired two batters in the sixth before finally getting the hook.
“I’ve been waiting for that all year, for Max to yell at me on the mound,” said Schneider afterwards. “It was awesome, I thought he was going to kill me.”
Uh-Oh, Somebody Notified Vladimir Guerrero Jr. That The ALCS Was Happening - Defector
Vladito was the hottest bat of the divisional round, bashing the Yankees to the tune of a 1.609 OPS and three homers in four games. Toronto may not need quite that level of cartoonish production from him to stay afloat against the Mariners, but the job is certainly easier if the team's best hitter is, well, hitting. To wit: The beefy lad seems to have awakened on the cross-continental flight before Wednesday night's Game 3, and now the Blue Jays have a pulse.
