AJ Preller held his end of season press conference.
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00:00Yeah, obviously, you know, you know, a little bit for today, looking back on this year and
00:06then, you know, definitely, definitely looking forward towards the offseason and, you know,
00:10we obviously wish that we were playing baseball at this point in time, felt like we had a
00:14team that obviously was capable of playing until the very end.
00:19But, you know, overall, you know, through this week and, you know, with a chance to
00:23reflect a little bit, obviously a very good season for our big league team, for the organization,
00:29a lot of credit, you know, going out to a lot of different people, we've got a great
00:34organization and I think from top to bottom this year, you know, through baseball operations,
00:39our scouts, our player development group, they constantly, you know, one of the best
00:43scouting and player development groups in the game, give us a ton of options and flexibility
00:47and, you know, seeing young players come through the system, there's nothing better than that
00:51and our group has done a great job from that standpoint.
00:53You know, our front office and analysts like going through the offseason and looking to
00:58kind of retool this team, you know, you need people that are constantly very accurate in
01:04their assessments and their evaluations and feel like I get great information from that
01:08group constantly.
01:09Obviously, you know, seeing a new manager with Mike Schilt, he had been in the organization
01:13for a few years and, you know, we knew what he was capable of, but seeing the way the
01:17staff and Mike led this team on the field was a lot of fun to be a part of, and I thought
01:23the staff was extremely tight, we had staff members that came from the system, we had
01:27staff members that had been on our previous, you know, on our previous big league staffs
01:32and teams and then, you know, had some experienced guys that came in from outside and I think
01:38Mike being able to blend and get those guys together on the same page and getting our
01:41team to play at a really high level, a lot of credit goes there.
01:45You know, again, for me personally, like, you know, obviously, you know, from, you know,
01:50like a lot of emotion, you know, going into the year, you know, I think just trying to
01:55kind of fulfill Peter Seiler and the legacy that he put out there for the entire organization,
01:59what this is about, you know, I think it was a big motivator for everybody, we have a very
02:03motivated group, but I think, you know, making sure that we went out and kind of fulfilled
02:08that legacy and played well, you know, that was definitely something in the back of everybody's
02:14minds all the time, you know, clearly it comes down to players and having super talented
02:20players that go out on the field and perform and, you know, again, you know, it's now been
02:28three times in five years we've played in the postseason, you know, that's a compliment
02:33to a lot of the guys that have been here and then some of the new guys that came in, how
02:35quickly they blended together, it was a lot of fun to watch that and see that and be a
02:40part of that and honestly doing it for the best fan base in the country, you know, it's
02:46pretty obvious right now something's very special going on in San Diego, the fans love
02:51this team, love this, you know, love this ballpark and, you know, and the city is just
02:55so excited and I think for us that's where it stings the most, you know, we, you know,
02:59do this job I think from day one I spoke about, you know, being on that big stage, that big
03:04stage is the World Series, you know, and, you know, we're not going to be content till
03:08we get there as an organization, but we've got a lot of people very motivated to build
03:13on this year and, you know, seeing the excitement and the support the fans give us every single
03:17day, you know, at heart I'm a huge baseball fan and I think, you know, just feeling that
03:22throughout the city over the last, you know, over the last eight months, nine months, their
03:26love for this team, this organization, their appreciation, we're going to do everything
03:30we can to go get better now over the next six or eight months and, you know, and be
03:34back in a spot where we're playing in October and won't be satisfied until we're playing
03:40on that big stage in the World Series, so, yeah, I think I just want to open it up now
03:44for any questions.
03:45Yeah, we'll get started with Kevin Acey of the UT.
03:49Hey, AJ, my first one would be what, now you've had a week or so to reflect on it, what's
03:55the explanation for how the bats went cold for the last two and a half games?
04:01Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, again, it's, it's, part of it is like, you know, postseason
04:07baseball, it's two games and I think, you know, you look up and, you know, if a guy
04:12goes 0-for-8, you know, he's not a postseason performer and, you know, obviously during
04:16the regular season, it's just 0-for-8, you know, it's two games, etc.
04:19So, you know, I think we'll, you know, again, like talk about a little bit more.
04:23I think our offense worked best when it was kind of move the line, you know, use the big
04:27part of the field, you know, obviously credits to the Dodger pitching.
04:32We know that they're, they've got a good staff, especially a good, you know, that bullpen
04:36staff, we didn't quite solve that, you know, at the end of the season.
04:41But probably a little bit of, you know, hey, it's two games, you know, I think we'll look
04:46at it as a group and see, hey, are there any other learnings we can have in terms of, you
04:50know, the, to make sure that, you know, our offense from top to bottom all year long and
04:55especially in the postseason and clicks on all cylinders.
04:58But, you know, I think, again, I think we're best when we're moving the ball, putting pressure
05:02on other teams.
05:03And we didn't quite do that enough at the end of the year.
05:04And, you know, again, I think we'll dig in a little bit more there and make sure that
05:10we're in a spot all year next year where we're playing the style of offense we want to play.
05:17You alluded to making it as far as you did being as successful as you were being a motivator.
05:22But I know that that's like your outlook at the start of every offseason.
05:26Like what, how are you positioned and why will this be the year that you guys can actually
05:32make the postseason two years in a row?
05:34Yeah, I mean, again, like we've got like a really good foundation, core pieces from a
05:41roster standpoint, it takes really talented players.
05:43We've got a lot of guys coming back that, you know, that are just really good players
05:49and talented players.
05:50And I think, again, like this team, you know, the ability to learn and grow from this experience,
05:56from this year, you know, I feel very confident that's there for this group, you know.
06:04And again, I think with Mike and the coaching staff, I think, you know, we'll do a very
06:09good job here over the course of the next couple of weeks and months to kind of look
06:12at things.
06:13And if there's areas we need to shore up, we'll try to do that from a roster standpoint
06:17and then from a process standpoint, you know, we'll do the same.
06:21So I think it's just a lot of faith in our players, our staff, our coaching staff, learning
06:27from some of those experiences in the past, obviously, 20 and 22, we got there and then
06:31didn't get back in 21 and 23.
06:34So I think a lot of people that are in the building, you know, have been through those
06:37experiences.
06:38You're always better when you kind of gone through it before.
06:40So I think we will put a lot of emphasis on making sure that we don't take anything for
06:45granted.
06:46And we do everything we can to get back in the postseason next year.
06:48Next, we'll go to AJ Cassaville, MLB.com.
06:52AJ, you talked about Mike and his impact.
06:56What kind of priority is it going to be to sign a different contract with him going forward
07:00to not have him gone to the next season with one year left in the field?
07:04Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, again, we just started.
07:08So, you know, just started those conversations in terms of myself and sitting down with Eric
07:12Katsander and Eric Grubner and others.
07:14And, you know, I think, again, we talk about getting people with ability and then having
07:19stability.
07:21So and rewarding people that perform.
07:24So, you know, I think from our standpoint, you know, that's going to be something that
07:28we look to do here over the course of the next couple weeks, you know, is try to see
07:32if we can line up with Mike and the coaching staff, you know, and having, again, like having
07:37a group that that's shown that they can get results and did a good job with this group
07:41and the staff is, you know, making sure that that people feel rewarded and that we have
07:47some people that are together in that area and from a coaching standpoint that are able
07:53to come back and kind of build and grow on what we did this year.
07:56So again, like, you know, starting those conversations, that's what the offseason is for.
08:01But the motivation is there to try to see if we can line up.
08:04And you know, I know from Mike's standpoint, you know, he obviously enjoys it here, wants
08:08to be here.
08:09But I know his focus also is just go, go get better.
08:12And if you do that, then, you know, I think he has a lot of trust and faith that things
08:15are, you know, from an organization standpoint that we'll figure something out there.
08:20And I know the I know the offseason just kind of started, but we'd asked you about Joe Musgrove
08:24and replacing him short term now going into next season, like, how do you how do you go
08:27about knowing you're not going to have him for at least a pretty big chunk of the season?
08:32How do you go about filling out the rotation from there?
08:34Yeah, I mean, I think, again, like, you know, same thing, go back to the process, you know,
08:38we'll kind of in that start in that process of, you know, evaluation, ranking, looking
08:42at trade free agency outside the organization and kind of weigh out what the you know, what
08:48what the cost is to do to do business on that front.
08:51And then obviously, like internal, you know, like inside options, we had guys step up this
08:55year. I think, you know, we'll be looking at, you know, obviously some of the guys that
08:59were on the roster this year to step up, you know, and also you look at guys like, you
09:04know, the Matt Waldron, Randy Vasquez, some guys that their first year of, you know, from
09:08a big league standpoint that show they can start in the big leagues.
09:11It's our job now to continue to develop those guys and have them take bigger steps here
09:14in year two and year three in certain cases.
09:16So, you know, you talk about all the time we were always looking for for pitching and
09:21starting pitching.
09:22Joe's a definite it's a big loss, you know, like no doubt to not have somebody like Joe
09:26all year long on the mound or, you know, what he brings to the clubhouse.
09:30So, you know, we're going to we're going to look a lot of different places.
09:32But, you know, that's what that's what the next, you know, five or six months or four
09:36to to go line up some some some good options and guys that we feel good about.
09:42You know, we've done it over the last few years, you know, like a Waka Lugo a couple
09:46of years ago, Nick Martinez at different points in time.
09:50And obviously this year, bringing in a Michael King, bringing in a Dylan Seas.
09:53So we will we'll keep laying out all our options and hopefully, you know, we feel good.
09:58We'll bring in some guys that can try to fill that void.
10:03Derek Togerson, NBC7.
10:07Hey, Jay, it's kind of a big picture kind of thing here.
10:10How different does this time of year feel right now than 12 months ago when there were
10:14so many different questions surrounding this ballclub with the Juan Soto situation, the
10:18managerial situation?
10:19How much more stable do you feel right now?
10:25Yeah, every every offseason has been a little different.
10:27Obviously, last offseason, you know, there's a start at the top with Peter and
10:32the health situation and losing Peter.
10:34So, I mean, I think that was, you know, never have I don't think ever be in a situation
10:39like that again where somebody that, you know, obviously work closely with and, you know,
10:45love and respect, you know, not with us.
10:47So that kind of had a huge effect on the whole organization.
10:50But I think we rallied around that rally around everything as a group, you know, and, you
10:56know, each offseason brings up a lot of questions always, you know, so obviously having, you
11:00know, having coming from a spot where, you know, we had success this year, you know,
11:06I think we'll build and grow off of that.
11:08You know, every offseason, though, you get into the roster, the questions, you know,
11:11like a free agency trades arbitration.
11:14That's no different.
11:15You know, I think, honestly, and every offseason kind of brings up its own set of challenges.
11:20And again, like, I think we'll it's kind of it's one of the fun parts of the job.
11:27But we'll get back into it the next couple of weeks and make some good decisions again.
11:33And speaking of guys, looking at extensions, you have several entering the last year of
11:37arbitration, Arise, Cease, King, and then Profar, Higashioka.
11:42Have you started conversations or put any kind of thought into the possibility of bringing
11:47as many of those guys back as possible?
11:48And is there a pecking order with that group?
11:50I think so far it's just been some real baseline, you know, some real basic communication with
11:56agents just explaining, like, hey, we're interested and we'll have some conversations.
12:01And, you know, whether that's a multi-year or one-year situation, I think, you know,
12:06it's just kind of like reaching out.
12:07And I think really that's all that's all we've done so far is, like, reach out, start in
12:11the process of talking to teams from a trade standpoint, just kind of figuring out what
12:14teams are interested in doing, what they're trying to accomplish this offseason.
12:17And then, like, very, like, you know, very, very surface level conversation with agents,
12:22trying to get a sense of, like, you know, kind of timeframe and timeline.
12:25But that's really what the next couple of weeks are for.
12:27And, you know, it really doesn't start until the GM meetings.
12:30So, you know, ultimately we'll keep talking and get a little bit more active with our
12:35conversations between now and I think that's November 4th.
12:39But, yeah, I think, you know, the next couple of weeks we'll be prepared, you know, to get
12:44more detail on those spots.
12:46I think the good news, a lot of those guys have indicated that they really enjoy being
12:50here.
12:50They enjoy, you know, playing here in front of our fan base.
12:53They love the organization.
12:54They love their teammates.
12:56You know, I think everybody kind of feels like I had, like, I don't know, five or six
12:59different conversations where, you know, to a person they were saying, this is the best
13:04team I've played on.
13:05And some guys that have played on 100 win teams, playoff teams, and they were like, this
13:08is the best team.
13:09And this is, you know, from an organization standpoint, the best feeling they've had,
13:13you know, just being, you know, honestly, like to get, you know, being together and
13:17enjoying it, you know, enjoying baseball.
13:18So, you know, where does that leave us?
13:20What does that mean?
13:21You know, again, hopefully, you know, players, they talk and, you know, they're interested
13:27in coming back and being a part of it and we'll tackle all that here in the next couple
13:31of weeks and months.
13:33Thanks, AJ.
13:35Marty Caswell.
13:37Hi, AJ.
13:37What's your understanding as to what payroll expectations are for 2025?
13:42And do you think you're in a position to add after the season?
13:46Yeah, I mean, I think that's another question.
13:49I think, you know, again, like the next couple of weeks, we'll start laying that all out.
13:52We'll get into, you know, the ownership's always been great here of like giving us,
13:56hey, like this is, you know, having like pretty clear guidelines of what it looks like.
14:01And especially when you get into, you know, the next, we get into November, December,
14:05when you really have to start making decisions.
14:06So I think that's all part of the next, you know, the next couple of weeks.
14:09I think the biggest thing I focused on right now in our group is just kind of like knowing
14:12the landscape.
14:13Here's the different possibilities.
14:14Here's what's going to be out there.
14:17Obviously, you know, being open-minded to what, you know, what different paths, you
14:22know, take us to from a payroll standpoint.
14:24The only thing, you know, like I've seen repeatedly, you know, when I've been here
14:28and I think we've demonstrated is we want to win, you know, we're here to win a championship.
14:33You know, I think we're going to do it responsibly, but, you know, we're looking
14:36to win championships.
14:37We're looking to put, you know, to get in the playoffs.
14:40And when we, you know, when you do that, if we need to have certain resources, you know,
14:44we'll have those conversations.
14:45But that's really what the next, you know, the next couple of months are for.
14:48And it's not like, hey, you have to be at this price point to do X, Y, or Z.
14:51You know, it's kind of like there's a lot of different ways to do that.
14:53We've done it a lot of different ways over the last, you know, five years or so.
14:57And, you know, I think that's what we're going to get to over the next couple of weeks
15:02and months, depending on what players are out there and what we need to do.
15:05And the type of success that Jackson Merrill had this season, which is rather
15:09extraordinary, does that make you more likely to fast track some of your top prospects in
15:13the organization?
15:14No, I mean, seeing that out there, you know, like talking about the freezes, Dallas, no,
15:22I mean, I think each guy's an individual.
15:23You know, I think like, you know, that's the way we treat it.
15:25We look at each situation.
15:26The players kind of, they tell you, you know, like kind of when they're ready.
15:30So, you know, I think Jackson's situation, the talented guys that have great makeup,
15:35yeah, they're usually, you know, we're not scared to challenge, you know, players like
15:39that.
15:40But it's really like an individual type deal, you know, based on their age or development,
15:44their skill set and their maturity.
15:46And Jackson checked a lot of those boxes.
15:48So I think our staff felt pretty confident that he had earned the right to come to spring
15:51training and compete.
15:53And then he won the job in spring training.
15:54You know, there's been other times with prospects where they just haven't been there.
15:58You know, we're not going to put them in a spot, you know, where we're going to rush
16:01them or their development.
16:02But, you know, obviously, whether it's, you know, Chris Paddock or Tatis or, you know,
16:08Jackson Merrill, some of those guys have come in and shown they're at a different stage
16:11and they were able to contribute a rookie year.
16:14But that's all kind of individual decisions that our staff, you know, that our staff makes.
16:19And lastly, do you expect your entire coaching staff to return this season?
16:23I know Niebla was up.
16:24What are things with him?
16:26Yeah, I mean, again, like I've had a lot of talks with Mike over the last, we chilled
16:30over the last, over the last few days, getting really productive, you know, on a lot of different
16:38fronts, but definitely with the staff.
16:39And I think, yeah, I think probably like, again, like, I think, you know, me and him,
16:43we sit down similar to what we did last year.
16:45You sit down, you know, and talk about what's the best staff for this team, this group.
16:50And I think in general, like, you know, a pretty good feeling that we like the group
16:54that we had from a staff standpoint.
16:55So obviously, we'll get into some contract conversation and discussions with each with
17:00each staff member.
17:01But, you know, I think, again, I think we feel like we had a staff that was very productive.
17:05They did a really good job with a talented group and our players.
17:09And I think from my standpoint, from my standpoint, looking to looking to bring that group back.
17:13Ruben's done a really good job here.
17:15He's been a big part of it over there over the last, you know, three seasons.
17:19And, you know, really the whole pitching group, you know, it's Ruben, it's Peter Somerville,
17:24it's Ben Fritz, it's Mike Porzella from the advanced standpoint.
17:26They've done a great job and Ruben's done a great job leading that group.
17:31Dennis Lynn, The Athletic.
17:34Hi, AJ.
17:34Going off that, Ruben's been mentioned in the past as a guy who might be a future MLB
17:39manager candidate.
17:40Do you expect him to come back next year?
17:42And are there going to be conversations about maybe him exploring that path this offseason?
17:48I mean, I think I think from, you know, the conversations I've had with Ruben, we have
17:52a great relationship.
17:54I know he loves it here.
17:55This is home for him.
17:57You know, his family's here, you know, and I know he loves our players and the organization.
18:05So, again, he's, you know, he's very talented and he's done a really good job.
18:11You know, so I don't think there's any like, you know, down the road type possibilities.
18:15You say, hey, is Ruben capable of doing X, Y, and Z?
18:17He's capable of doing a lot.
18:19You know, we're hoping it's with the Padres.
18:22And I feel confident he likes his time.
18:24You know, he really loves the organization, loves it here, loves the city.
18:28You know, and that's those conversations for the next couple of weeks.
18:30And my guess is we'll wind up on something there.
18:34And who do you think will be playing shortstop or starting a shortstop for you next year?
18:38And if you don't have a firm answer right now, what do you see as your options there?
18:42Yeah, I mean, obviously, we've got, you know, we've got a lot of athletes on the field and
18:46different possibilities.
18:48But, you know, haven't really gotten too much into that.
18:51I think that's, you know, again, like we'll work, you know, we'll work through that over
18:55the next couple of weeks.
18:56And, you know, I know last year we were probably, you know, it took us a little bit to get through
19:01there just because we were trying to work through the roster, Soto, Ha-Sung, you know,
19:05situation, some different trade possibilities.
19:07I would think we'll be able to have a pretty like an earlier idea about where things are
19:13going to, you know, how things are going to unfold and be able to go to the players a
19:16little bit earlier and talk about it.
19:17But those are conversations, honestly, for the next couple of weeks.
19:20Really haven't haven't haven't touched on that yet so far this offseason.
19:26Jeff Sanders, UT.
19:28Hey, AJ, at the luxury tax last year, you know, I know you haven't talked about payroll
19:35constraints this year, but if you're going to bring back guys, add guys, you're going
19:39to get past that pretty quick.
19:41How do you view the luxury tax as an obstacle for you guys moving forward?
19:48Yeah, again, I mean, I think I think every, you know, we try to look at it.
19:52You know, we understand, I think, you know, the group does a good job managing and understanding
19:57what the different decisions mean.
20:01You know, I think from our standpoint, it's not about it's one set number or anything
20:05like that.
20:05I think, you know, there's a lot of benefit like we mentioned this year is a lot of benefit
20:08in resetting the number.
20:12But again, like we've got a one year plan, we've got a three and five year plan.
20:16You know, I think we'll part of that, too, is you got to get to the Austin and kind of
20:20see the players that are out there and the different possibilities and make decisions
20:23there.
20:24But again, I think for us, it's an openness to we've had teams and gone to the playoffs
20:30with with less than the under the tax number.
20:33We've had teams that have been north of the tax number.
20:35I think the goal for us is, you know, put a really good team on the field that fans want
20:39to see play and are proud of and excited about.
20:42And, you know, I think there's a lot of different ways to do that.
20:46And it won't be about a specific number or anything like that.
20:49You know, I think it's more about what fits for us both both this year and the next few
20:54years and, you know, how that fits on our roster.
20:57So does that mean ownership will have an appetite to be able to go over the luxury tax if that
21:03makes sense for the roster?
21:06Yeah, I can again, like I think these are conversations that we're going to get into
21:10over the course of the next couple of weeks.
21:12But, you know, again, like I know, like in general, like when I sit down, we talk about
21:16it, you know, it's about winning.
21:18It's about winning championships, doing it responsibly.
21:21You know, it's not, you know, and ultimately, you know, we got to get into it.
21:25But they've shown like repeatedly since since I've been here, you know, that that we're
21:30going to be open.
21:31And, you know, that's that's that's all you can ask for at this point in time.
21:34And, you know, I think we'll we'll see how the offseason presents itself and probably
21:38get a better sense of that here over the course of the next few weeks, honestly.
21:42But last year, trading Juan Soto kind of was a cure all it cut payroll and address several
21:49facets of the roster.
21:50How do you view the challenge this year when there isn't that kind of person to trade and
21:55you do have a number of spots that you need to address?
21:58Yeah, I mean, every offseason, like I said, there's different different different challenges
22:03situation like with the roster.
22:04I mean, we've got, you know, again, like we've got the foundation of a good team that's
22:08coming back.
22:09So that's that's positive, you know, but but obviously some of the free agent players pro
22:14far Hagey, you know, Hassan Kim situation coming off the injury.
22:20You know, those are all things that we're going to weigh out.
22:22And if those guys, you know, if those guys don't come back, that creates opportunity
22:27and spots that we're going to have to that we're going to have to evaluate, you know,
22:31Joe's injury that was mentioned earlier, Musgrove and continue to add to the starting
22:35pitching front.
22:36Tanner Scott did a tremendous job for us, you know, out of the bullpen.
22:40So those are all those are all areas that we've got to look at.
22:42I think the good news is, you know, we've got, you know, when you come back with a team
22:46with Manny and Tatis and, you know, Cronaworth, Xander, Jackson on and on with Luis, you
22:52know, a rotation with C Starvish and, you know, Michael King took a huge step this year,
22:57a bullpen that, you know, is really deep.
23:00Full year, Jason Adam, you know, it's a good place to start, you know, and then, you know,
23:07like similar to last year, we had a way out Juan Soto situation versus potentially moving
23:11him.
23:13We'll do that on a bunch of different individual fronts over the next couple of weeks and
23:16hopefully have something that makes some sense when we get to spring training.
23:20Great, thank you.
23:22Back to A.J.
23:24A.J., I guess you now have two shortstops playing in the outfield that we're going to
23:30ask you about in off seasons, whether their potential to move back to shortstop Tatis
23:35and Merrill.
23:35Do you view them as outfielders given how well they've played out there, or is there
23:39some possibility that they could be back in the infield?
23:40Is that one of the options that I had mentioned?
23:45I think they probably love that possibility.
23:47They always joke around all the time, like whatever's needed.
23:50I think the great part with those guys, they're athletes and they're talented athletes and
23:54they can play different spots.
23:56So I think it was Dennis earlier.
23:57Yeah, we've got a lot of guys, you know, Xander, Ha-Sung, obviously Jackson and Tati have
24:02done it.
24:03We've got a lot of guys that have done it.
24:06But, you know, again, like I think it's, you know, those guys are obviously Tati winning
24:10the Platinum two years ago, Jackson doing a tremendous job in centerfield this year.
24:15You know, we know that they're, you know, they're really good in what they do in the
24:18outfield.
24:19So, you know, we'll have that conversation and Mike and the staff and, you know, our
24:24front office scouting group will be part of all of those conversations.
24:28You know, we'll obviously start the year with a shortstop, so we'll figure it out.
24:32But honestly, that's the next couple of weeks.
24:35And, you know, I think the good news, we've got a lot of guys that are probably open to
24:41it, but more importantly, can do it.
24:43And then we'll figure out what's best for our team, what's out there on the market.
24:47Ha Sung's situation as well and, you know, and go from there with it.
24:51So.
24:53And then the last thing for me, just if you could kind of assess the last, I guess the
24:57way the last 12 months have gone, you've traded a lot of guys, a lot of guys from your
24:59system, you've gained a lot of big league talent.
25:01Now, how do you kind of view where the farm stands now going forward with the draft class
25:06that you just brought in and all the pieces that you kind of have at the lower levels
25:09and where things are overall?
25:11Yeah, I think it's, you know, it's been a theme the last few years.
25:14Again, like it's a compliment to our scouts and our scouting group on the amateur side,
25:20international side, player development, you know, they just keep doing, you just got to
25:26keep reloading.
25:26And that draft class every single year is, you know, probably as important as any date
25:31on the calendar.
25:31And same thing with that January 15th international, you know, signing period.
25:35And, you know, again, like we've been able to make trades and you look up and internally
25:40feel very confident that we've got, you know, a really strong farm system.
25:44And I think, you know, you look up right now, Ethan, Salas, you know, Leo, they're playing
25:48in the fall league and opening a lot of eyes, you know, from a pitching standpoint, you
25:53know, that we've talked about, we traded some pitching at the deadline last year.
25:56So that will take a little bit of time to replenish.
25:59But honestly, there's a group of guys that they're, you know, that honestly we talked
26:03about that are kind of starting to progress up the system, double A, triple A, that'll
26:06be in big league camp and start get some looks that we feel really good about.
26:09So, you know, we said it a few years ago that, you know, we felt like we had, you know,
26:14one of the better systems in the game, even after making, you know, these trades.
26:17I think it was after the 21 with Snell and Darvish and Musgrove and, you know, and then
26:21the same thing after the after the Soto deals.
26:24And we looked up over the last few years and the industry kind of tells you and I just
26:27tell you, I feel very confident about what we have in our system right now.
26:30It can, that we have some guys that are going to help us at PECO and probably sooner rather
26:35than later, honestly.
26:36Bryce Miller, UT.
26:39AJ, coming off the disappointment of 2023, how much pressure did you feel either internally,
26:46externally, personally, coming into the season?
26:49And given how much change there was from a payroll perspective and Juan Soto going to
26:54the Yankees, was there anything you did differently philosophically that led to any success that
27:00you had this season?
27:01Yeah, I mean, in terms of like, you know, the, you know, the want to win and the motivation,
27:06I could just say, you know, speak to myself.
27:08I'm like, you know, we have a great group and, you know, like, take this really serious.
27:12Like, we enjoy, love baseball and love, you know, love Padre baseball, but it's every
27:19year, you know, and I think, I think the fan base sees that, you know, it's like, at the
27:23end of the day, you may not agree with every move or, you know, certain things may not
27:26work out.
27:27But the, like the motivation to go put a winning team on the field, you know, run a, run a,
27:32you know, best in class organization, top to bottom that Peter always talked about.
27:36We have a lot of people in this organization that share that.
27:40So it's like, you know, you know, again, I think, you know, I talked about it last year,
27:44like personally, like, pretty disappointing because I think we felt like the roster from
27:49the, from the 23 season was super talented and we didn't get it done.
27:53So, I don't know about extra motivation, because like every year, like we're very motivated
27:57and it's, it's one of the best traits of this group is that they're passionate and they
28:00love the game of baseball and they want to win, you know, but, you know, I think, you
28:06know, still that disappointment from, from 20, you know, from 23, I think we were, we
28:11were very motivated, but we're very motivated to build on the success from this year.
28:15So, you know, I can just tell you that personally.
28:19And then in terms of like, you know, I've heard that a little bit, like, Hey, like,
28:23you know, this team, this roster, we've had some really good teams and rosters.
28:26I think we're, you know, we're among the top five or six franchises now.
28:30And, you know, I think the, the marching orders was had in the 2020s from really when
28:34I first got this job and filled this thing.
28:36So, you know, in the decade of the twenties, we're one of the more successful franchises
28:40and every year we've got a chance to, you know, to, to, to play deep into October.
28:45You know, I think now we've, we've won, you know, one playoff series in three of the last
28:50five years, you know, we want to just build on that, you know?
28:53So I think, you know, in terms of like how we're doing it, I think it's just like make
28:58good decisions, you know, you know, and how we do that.
29:01We just constantly are talking, you know, talking the game, throwing things out there,
29:05best ideas, when we've got a really talented group, I listened to those guys.
29:10Nothing's really changed on that front.
29:12You know, from my standpoint, it's trusting your people, ask a lot of questions and, you
29:18know, have, have some, some big picture thoughts about what types of players can, can win and
29:22lead to championships.
29:23That really hasn't changed over the last 10 years, honestly, and definitely not in the
29:27last calendar year.
29:28So every year is a little different, like how to do that, you know, with your roster.
29:33So, you know, this year's version was, it was a good balanced roster.
29:37Hopefully we can keep building on that.
29:39Thanks.
29:40Jay, are you there?
29:44Oh, yeah.
29:45Can you hear me?
29:46Yes.
29:47Hi, AJ, I just want to, I just confirm one thing, did Hassan have the surgery?
29:56Yeah, Hassan had the surgeries and, and, you know, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's,
30:02he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's,
30:07Hassan had the surges and labrum surgery, you know, with, with Dr. Eltraz now, it's
30:13probably about 10 days ago or so.
30:16So is there any timeline for something like that?
30:23Yeah, I mean, I think, like Hassan, you know, the labrum surgery, you know, again, like,
30:28you know, we've seen it from, from a few position players, you know, over the time.
30:33I know, you know, there's been some talk about, you know, him being able to start a
30:37throwing program, the beginning part of the season.
30:41You know, and again, I think, like, it's, we got to kind of see how he responds to the
30:45surgery and where that goes.
30:48You know, heard some different timelines and timeframes.
30:50I know from Dr. Eltraz, it sounds like in our medical team that, you know, when we get
30:55into the early part of next year, you know, I think some conversation, whether that's May,
30:59June, July, you know, but I think, again, like, you know, the big thing with Hassan,
31:04he works hard.
31:04He's a good athlete.
31:06He's going to put himself in every possible position to come back as soon as possible.
31:10But the labrum is a surgery that's going to take some time for him to come back.
31:13So, you know, it doesn't sound like he'll be ready for the start of spring training,
31:17but, you know, we'll have more conversation about exactly when, but I know from Hassan's
31:22standpoint, he's going to do everything he can.
31:24So hopefully early, early part of next season, he'll be able to come back.
31:27And that's more of the questions that we've got to get a little bit more into over the
31:31next couple of weeks as we start talking more contract and see where that goes with him.
31:35So how did his situation change your approach to Kim?
31:41Yeah, I mean, obviously, like when there's an injury, always, you know, that, you know,
31:45that you got to factor all of that in.
31:47So he's got a mutual option.
31:49That's kind of the first question after the World Series that we've got to weigh in on
31:53is the mutual option.
31:54Then he'll have an ability to also, you know, figure out where he stands from that front.
31:59And then based on that, then we'll move on to the next steps, you know.
32:02So I think the first conversation is that mutual option, whether we want to pick it
32:07up as a team, and he'll do the same on his front.
32:09And then we'll get more information after that.
32:12And we'll keep gathering information on the injury standpoint where that, you know, where
32:16that leaves him and us.
32:17But again, Hassan's a very talented player.
32:21I think we felt that at the end of the year, not having him here.
32:23It definitely, you know, definitely was a blow.
32:26And he's a guy that, you know, he plays the game with a ton of energy.
32:29He's an intelligent baseball player.
32:31He defends the field really well.
32:32He can play all different spots.
32:34He can take a walk.
32:35He can hit a homerun.
32:36He can steal a base.
32:36Like that's, you know, that's the way we evaluate him.
32:39And that's a really talented and valuable player.
32:42And again, like I think from our standpoint, we'd love to bring him back.
32:45I think we just got to kind of get into it and see where that leaves us.
32:52Time for a few more.
32:52Just ask that everybody left on this list limits there to one question each.
32:57So we'll go to Jake next.
32:59AJ, I know your focus was the product on the field, but when you kind of look back
33:03on the NLDS in the series with the Dodgers and all the drama that surrounded it between
33:08articles and gamesmanship from the opposing manager, did you just chalk that up as rivalry
33:12and playoff baseball?
33:13Or was there a sense of frustration seeing your team essentially attack like that?
33:18No, I mean, I think in general, like I think it speaks, you know, just if you took a step
33:22back and like kind of look at the game, it's kind of good for the game in terms of, you
33:26know, you have two really good teams that, you know, now, you know, I think three times
33:32in the last five years have faced each other in the playoffs.
33:35And we obviously face them a ton in the regular season and they're obviously right up the
33:38road.
33:39So, you know, I think you've got, you know, I could from what I hear, you know, you look
33:45at the, you know, it sounds like the country was interested, you know, you get, you know,
33:49I think somebody said that the top rating and division in the last seven or eight years
33:54in a division series game, obviously big ratings in Japan.
33:58So I think from my standpoint, I look at it more as like, hey, did we, you know, you always
34:02want to maintain focus.
34:03You want to make sure that you're locked in on like what's at hand, you know, and then
34:07from a big picture standpoint, it's good for the game.
34:09You know, it's good for the game when you have super talented teams that are competitive
34:12and, you know, and are both trying to, you know, to be the best team in the game and,
34:18you know, creates probably a natural rivalry.
34:19And that's, I think what we saw, you know, is like competitive, like, you know, passionate
34:22fan bases, passionate, you know, position, you know, player, player rosters, passionate,
34:28you know, coaching staffs.
34:29And, you know, I think arguably two of the best teams in all of baseball and, you know,
34:34doing it again for another time, another go around.
34:37And I think that's good for baseball, honestly.
34:40And I think, you know, from us, we'll try to learn from it, you know, and kind of make
34:43sure that we're kind of channeling that in the right spot.
34:46And, you know, we'll go from there with it.
34:49So.
34:51Back to Derek.
34:53Hey, AJ.
34:54A lot of the emphasis on scouting is, of course, on the amateur level, but then you find guys
34:58like David Peralta, Donovan Solano in the middle of the year, Martin Perez.
35:02But how much emphasis is put on scouting veterans, keeping eyes or tabs on guys who were around
35:08the league and own commodities that might at some point, you know, become available
35:11like those guys did this year?
35:14Yeah.
35:17Amateur pro and international.
35:18Our pros, Gavin Groot, Pete DeYoung, you know, leads that.
35:22Again, he's done a great job.
35:24So, I mean, it's a huge part of it, you know, like obviously being able to acquire guys
35:28at the top end, you know, like go make a deal like this year for Luis Suarez or for Dylan
35:33Seisk as, you know, Luis wins the batting title.
35:36There was a no-hitter and, you know, it's been in some conversation for Cy Young votes,
35:41etc.
35:42Go get a Michael King, a guy that's kind of ascending in our scouts estimation.
35:47And then some of those pieces, like you mentioned, like a Solano, a pro-far, David Peralta, Tyler
35:52Wade, you know, as a six-year free agent.
35:54There's so many, you know, like that's, you know, that's what every baseball ops group
35:58tries to do, you know, and, you know, again, like I mentioned it before, you got to have
36:04really good information and people that live it every single day.
36:07Pete and his group does that.
36:09And, you know, again, like, you know, you look up and, you know, whether it's a Juan
36:12Soto deal, those are kind of the big headliners that everybody talks about.
36:16But all of the, like really when you look at building a roster and, you know, and a
36:21team with a 26-man roster, it's really that 40-man roster and into the minor league system.
36:25Those are huge parts of our story this year.
36:28And honestly, a compliment to Pete and his group that have done it, not just this year,
36:32like over, you know, the past, you know, the past 10 years, they've done a great job
36:36with it.
36:36But, yeah, I think we saw, you know, we saw that come to play, you know, like the depth
36:41of the roster and some of those decisions that were made by Pete and his group.
36:44So a lot of fun to see that this year.
36:48Dennis Lynn.
36:50AJ, what's in the greatest year for Xander Bogarts?
36:53How do you evaluate it?
36:54Factoring in that he did miss time with a shoulder injury, but also weighing the fact
36:59that he's, you signed him for a lot of years and a lot of money.
37:01And what are your realistic expectations going forward now that he's 32?
37:07Yeah, no, I mean, I think with Xander, it's, you know, this is like getting, you know,
37:11playing through the injury, kind of like getting back in the second half of the season.
37:17You know, again, I think the expectation with Xander is, and he'll be the first to tell
37:20you, he knows that he's, you know, like that, you know, I think from his standpoint, he
37:25knows he's got a lot of really good baseball in there.
37:27And, you know, I think we saw the second half of the 23 season, you know, again, like that's
37:36all, again, like part of having a core group of guys, there may be, you know, a year or
37:42a period of time or, you know, half a season where guys don't quite perform at the level
37:46that they're expecting themselves to perform to.
37:48But I think the good news for us is Xander's coming back and he's going to do everything
37:52he can this offseason, you know, knowing him, his personality, his makeup to come back and,
37:57you know, and be, you know, and be an all-star caliber player.
38:00You know, again, he got us, there were some big hits there, some big home runs and big,
38:04you know, at-bats.
38:06And I think for us like to be the team that we need to be next year, it's going to involve
38:10Xander right in the middle of it and looking up and having him have a Bogarts-type year.
38:14And that's, you know, that's a guy that's going to be among the lead leaders on average,
38:17a guy that, you know, starts to fill up, you know, the doubles and home run side of things.
38:21He could play up the middle.
38:22You know, we saw that at second base.
38:24He got better and better as the year went, the first half went, then he switched over
38:27to shortstop.
38:29We'll talk to him about that and where that looks.
38:31But yeah, if we're going to be, you know, a playoff team next year, my guess is we're
38:35having this conversation next year.
38:36We look up and Xander, you know, has an all-star-type season.
38:39And I feel very confident he's capable of doing that.
38:42And I feel very confident he's going to look at this year.
38:44Part of it was the injury.
38:46But I think he's going to look at this year and make some adjustments to make sure that
38:49he comes back next year and he's, you know, he's back as one of the top players in the
38:53game.
38:53And I'm excited to see that for him.
38:57Take two more.
38:58We'll go back to Jeff.
39:00AJ, a lot of the public sentiment was this is kind of your finest year as a general manager,
39:07cutting payroll, doing some of the things you were able to do creatively versus some
39:12of the spending sprees you've been on.
39:13How would you view that perspective that working with those parameters maybe forced you to
39:19do things differently and perhaps be more, just streamline some of the things that you
39:26do in building a roster?
39:28Yeah, I mean, again, I think I mentioned earlier, it's like, you know, every year it's a little
39:35bit different, like what the challenges are.
39:37So, but in terms of like how we go about doing it, you know, like in the process and like
39:42the way I personally go about doing it, like, you know, I don't think a lot changed in terms
39:46of this year, like, yeah, we've got to, you know, because, you know, we cut some payroll
39:51or the, you know, the number was at a different spot.
39:54We didn't like drastically change the way we go about making decisions, conversations,
39:58evaluations.
40:00And again, like I've said it before, you know, like, you know, like kind of looking at it,
40:05it's like, you know, it's never going to be every single year, every decision you make.
40:09But I think what we try to talk about as an organization is if, you know, our area scout
40:13in the Carolina is, you know, making a good decision, has a good process, you know, seven
40:17out of 10 decisions and, you know, and he's right seven out of 10 times if you want to
40:22say that.
40:23And, you know, our pro scout is doing the same thing and our assistant general manager
40:28is doing the same thing over the course of, you know, months and years, you know, those
40:32decisions start adding up and you start seeing that in terms of players and moves and rosters
40:37and, you know, and organizations moving the needle and getting better.
40:40So I think that's just what we keep focusing on is each individual decision.
40:43Let's make sure we're having good information, making the right calls and good things happen.
40:48So, you know, I think that's, you know, that's what we focus on, Josh Stein, myself, others
40:54in the front office.
40:55And, you know, again, I think, you know, we've had some good teams here in the last few years.
40:59We've also had a couple of teams that, you know, there's the expectations are high and
41:04that we need to learn from.
41:06So I think we have those experiences.
41:09I think we're looking forward to another offseason, but I think the process, the way
41:12we go about doing it, the way we ask questions, the way we evaluate, the togetherness from
41:17the group that has not changed.
41:19And I think that's ultimately why, you know, you look up and more often than not, we're
41:23in a better spot.
41:24And that's what we're going to try to learn from this year.
41:26Yeah.
41:27Thanks.
41:29We'll finish up with Hibuchi.
41:30Yes, let me ask you about Darvish and Matsui.
41:40How do you evaluate their performance this year and what do you want them to do next
41:46year?
41:48Yeah, I think for Darvish, you know, I think, again, like just a lot of, I think, feel really
41:55good about him and the way he ended the season.
41:58You know, obviously, you know, for you, try to be there throughout the year, you know,
42:03and just, you know, be there from a support standpoint from the organizations.
42:08You know, for him, he went through, you know, some personal things that he needed to get
42:11right, but just, you know, the fact that he was able to do that and then come back and
42:16do what he loves, you know, and be able to perform on the field at the end of the season,
42:20just really proud of him.
42:21He's, you know, one of the best, if not the best pitcher I've seen from Japan, which
42:26is saying a lot.
42:28And seeing him in those playoff games and against the Dodgers and throw two gems on
42:32the field and give us a real chance to win just felt great for him.
42:36And he put so much time and effort into it.
42:38I think the fans know that and see that, but he really does want to be the best.
42:42You know, he's constantly trying to get better and trying to grow and learn.
42:47And I'm just really proud of him and excited for him because I know this year, you know,
42:52for him, he went through some stuff that he was able to get right and get on the field
42:58and perform because that's what he loves to do.
42:59And I think for Yuki, you know, talk to him, like, you know, now I've been part of, you
43:04know, some players coming from the NPB and that first year is always an adjustment period.
43:08And I thought he did a great job with it.
43:10You look at the second half of the season, the walk to strikeout, you know, he got better
43:14as the year went on for me.
43:17You know, he was a guy, I think, second on our team in appearances, right about that.
43:22So again, I think like for him, he's going to grow and build off of this year.
43:26He's very smart.
43:27He's again, somebody that puts a ton of attention to detail.
43:30He's going to go home, go back to Japan and then come back to San Diego.
43:34And he's going to be better for this experience.
43:35But I think in general, like, you know, first year in the league, a lot of new things, not
43:40closing, pitching, you know, a different role.
43:43You know, I think he, you know, overall was a success for him this year.
43:47And now it's now it's going to be go build on that.
43:49And I have a lot of faith he will.