Padres willing to expand payroll in pursuit of World Series championship Orsillo signs long-term extension as broadcaster; Saturday TV games package in the works.
SAN DIEGO — For much of the offseason, as the Padres’ payroll teetered around the collective bargaining tax, external speculation centered around which players they might trade in order to stay below that number. Instead, San Diego marked Monday’s first full-squad workout by officially announcing the signing of right-hander Nick Pivetta — making it likely that the organization will exceed the first CBT threshold in 2025.
A day later, as CEO Erik Greupner addressed reporters on a wide array of topics, he made it clear the team is willing to do so.
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“If that’s what it takes to put together a competitive team that we think can accomplish the goals we have as an organization, then we would be willing to do that this year,” Greupner said of exceeding the CBT. “I think that’s just a further commitment and really a proof-in-the-pudding type moment for the fanbase that we mean what we say.
“We’re not backing away from the plan to try to win a World Series championship. And we’re doing everything we possibly can, putting every resource we can into fielding a competitive team that can compete for that championship.”
Greupner laid the roster-building at the feet of general manager A.J. Preller. It remains possible, Greupner said, that the Padres would trade from their current group. But those transactions would be baseball-centric.
“Our goal is to be at or around the payroll level that we’re at right now, and field a competitive and complete roster,” Greupner said. “If we’ve learned one thing about A.J. over the years, including as recently as last year, Spring Training doesn’t mean that the roster’s set.
“I know he’s going to continue to work to complete this roster in a way we can go out and have the most complete, competitive team possible.”
After exceeding the CBT in three consecutive seasons from 2021-23, the Padres dipped back below that number in ’24. As a result, they would not pay additional tax as a repeat payor in ’25. But if they were to exceed that threshold again, it would still come with penalties — namely a 20 percent tax on overages and stricter penalties for signing qualified free agents next offseason.
The Padres seem willing to pay those penalties. For the 2025 season, the first CBT threshold sits at $241 million. The Padres’ projected ‘25 payroll sits below that mark, around $200 million. But their payroll for CBT purposes is a different number — calculated with the average annual value of each contract, rather than the actual dollars going to players that season.
Mike Shildt and A.J. Preller on Padres’ rotation
Feb 13, 2025 · 2:16
Mike Shildt and A.J. Preller on Padres’ rotation
