On the first day of the official MLB General Managers’ meetings in Las Vegas, A.J. Preller spoke to the media and the team also announced that starting pitcher Ryan Weiss had signed a one-year contract, including a team option for 2028.
In the first action for the major league roster for this offseason, the Padres signed 29-year-old Ryan Weiss to a reported $1.85 million deal with an option for 2028.
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Weiss, originally drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018, has spent time in the minor leagues, with the Independent Atlantic League, in the Chinese professional league, and in the KBO since being drafted. He made his major league debut last season with the Houston Astros, pitching in nine games. He also appeared in 22 games for their Triple-A team.
He features a high-90s four-seam fastball, a sweeper, a changeup, a sinker, and a curveball in his pitch mix. In his time with the Astros, Weiss posted a 7.62 ERA with two of the games as a starter. He finished the season in Triple-A and had a strong end of his season. Over his last 19.1 innings pitched in 2026, Weiss had a 1.37 ERA.
He will be added to the list of pitchers given the opportunity to show what he can do as a starter and should benefit from the tutelage of pitching coach Ruben Niebla and his staff.
Off-season notes
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Padres’ special assistant A.J. Ellis was hired by the New York Mets as manager Andy Green’s strategy coordinator for the major league coaching staff. He had a hybrid role with the Padres, working both in the front office and on the field as a supplemental coach. That is the second staff position that will need to be filled for the Padres after bullpen coach Ben Fritz was hired as the Diamondbacks’ primary pitching coach.
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Controlling owners Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano were seen in the Dominican Republic with A.J. Preller in late October. While in the DR, Preller signed 18-year-old Venezuelan right-handed pitcher Moises Alcalde for $20,000. He is viewed as a possible starter prospect. Preller also signed 17-year-old Panamanian left-hander Yeremy De León ($30,000), 17-year-old Venezuelan left-hander Raymer Moreno ($50,000), and 17-year-old Cuban infielder Omar Guerra ($25,000).
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Japanese RHP Tatsuya Nogami, 18, was signed to a minor league contract per Francys Romero of Beisbol FR. He already has a 98 mph fastball as part of his repertoire. The Padres have reportedly signed more than 50 international prospects during this signing period, the most of any major league organization. The signing period closes on Dec. 15.
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1B/DH Nick Pratto has resigned a minor league contract with the organization. Pratto spent most of 2026 with the El Paso Chihuahuas, playing in 71 games while hitting .271 with a .818 OPS.
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RHRP Amgel Hernandez, 23, has signed a minor league contract with the Padres per a report from MadFriars.com. Originally part of the Miami Marlins organization, Hernandez played in Mexico in 2026.
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Preller had a 45-minute media availability at the GM meetings on Tuesday. Addressing many questions from reporters, Preller outlined plans to meet with pitcher Joe Musgrove soon to plan for his offseason. He also addressed the obvious need for starting pitching and responded to a question from Jon Heyman (New York Post and MLB Network) about whether he was looking for three or four starters. His answer was, “Keep going.” The rumor mill has the Padres linked to Tarik Skubal, but Preller was evasive when questioned about a possible visit to Petco Park.
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When asked about the payroll for this season, he said that it was still a fluid situation and would be “player-dependent,” but there would be a better feel for the budget after meeting with players and agents during the GM meetings to see what the market was looking like. He also acknowledged ongoing communication with Michael King and his agent regarding resigning with the team. King is exploring the market but still a possible re-sign, depending on how the free agent market plays out.
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Preller’s full media scrum is available here: