In the 2025 MLB season, despite finishing 90-72, it was a disappointing year for the San Diego Padres, as they were eliminated from the playoffs in the Wild Card Round and won only one playoff game while their NL West rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, won the World Series for the second year in a row. After the season ended, focus immediately shifted to the upcoming year, 2026: however, there were many concerns about players’ contracts ending involving key players like Michael King, Jason Adam, and Gavin Sheets. But given everything that’s been happening, the Padres have a real chance at winning the World Series.
Before getting injured, Michael King was one of the most dominant pitchers in the MLB, with some even saying that he had a chance at winning the Cy Young Award. From March to mid-May, Michael King sustained an astounding 2.67 ERA; but due to an injury, he missed many games leading up until August, with him missing even more games due to another injury until September 9th.After the 2025 season, King’s contract ended and it looked like he was going to leave San Diego, but right before the new year in December of 2025, Padres, RHP Michael King agrees to 3-year, $75M deal – ESPN to keep him in San Diego for another 3 years.
Throughout the 25’ season, Jason Adam was a key player for the Padres: he had a 1.93 ERA and was nominated as an All-Star. Adam was supposed to be the Padres go-to reliever in the 7th inning, but due to a leg injury right before the playoffs, he missed the rest of the season and will miss some time early into the 26’ season. Even with this injury, though, he is a must need for a team trying to make a deep playoff run. Sadly for the Padres, his contract ended after the season, but thanks to A.J. Preller, the Padres general manager, Padres’ Jason Adam: Avoids arbitration with San Diego – CBS Sports securing him for the entire 2026 season.
In 2024, Gavin Sheets played for the worst team in baseball, had a batting average of .233, and only hit 10 home runs. Not many people even knew his name. When he joined the Padres in 2025, his batting average jumped up to .252, he hit 19 home runs, and San Diego loved him. He even had his own chant that went “HOLY SHEETS, HOLY SHEETS”. Gavin Sheets had turned into a San Diego favorite. After the season ended, there were worries about whether Sheets would stay in San Diego or leave, given his contract had ended, but, Padres’ Gavin Sheets: Gets $4.5 million from Padres – CBS Sports. This keeps Sheets with the Padres for the 26’ season.
All of these signings that the San Diego Padres have made over the offseason have been crucial for securing another playoff year: it’s not a given that they’re going to make the playoffs, but these sign-ons definitely up the chances. Between Michael King, Jason Adam, Gavin Sheets, and more to come, the future of the San Diego Padres in 2026 is already looking promising.
