Will the San Diego Padres be able to spend more money in the coming seasons like they did when Peter Seidler was alive, or are they maxed out in allocating payroll? 

The San Diego Padres are arguably in the best time in franchise history.

The Padres are highly profitable, with money committed to several players and Petco Park as one of the crown jewels of MLB cathedrals. The money is rolling in, and unlike past regimes, this group is spending on the franchise. Whether it is bringing in high-quality talent or renovating the fan experience at Petco Park, the Padres are doing a fantastic job.

People are coming in droves to downtown San Diego. The city supports the Padres, as more than 3.3 million people visited Petco Park in the 2024 regular season alone. That was a new attendance record and a number that will likely be eclipsed during the 2025 season. Season ticket sales are up for the coming season. The sky is the limit.

There is no longer the cry of a small market team in San Diego. The Padres ended that stigma with a lot of hard work. Creative thinking and tons of vision turned the Padres into what we see before us today. They are a mold for smaller market cities to turn things around. If the Padres can do it- so can you.

It took a while for the ownership groups in the city to understand the fact it takes money to make money. Major League Baseball is very much a business, and in order to maximize profits, you need to invest in the company. The Padres are certainly investing, as they possess one of the highest payrolls in the league.

But will this continue? Will they be able to increase payroll?

In the past, Peter Seidler and his passion for the sport would open up any option for the Padres. If they needed to invest more money- they did it.

Now? I guess we shall see.

Jurickson Profar, Kyle Higashioka, Tanner Scott, and Ha-Seong Kim are free agents this winter. Retaining all of them seems impossible. Scott will likely be too expensive, and early indications are that Ha-Seong Kim is very popular in the open market. The Padres will be hard-pressed to keep either player. It will take another long-term investment.

After the 2025 season, Michael King, Dylan Cease, and Luis Arraez will all be free agents. These three men are critical to the future, but again, re-signing them all seems impossible. Perhaps the team may be able to sign two of these three, but it will come down to contract demands. It will also come down to how much they spend this winter.

A lot of future payroll needs to be resolved.

With Peter Seidler at the helm, permission to spend seemed like a formality.

Currently, with Eric Kutsenda as chairman, the future spending is cloudy at best. Shortly after being named by the team, Kutsenda responded with this. “With a heavy heart, I humbly accept this appointment in honor of my dear friend, Peter Seidler, who I had the privilege of working with for almost 30 years,” said Kutsenda. “I am excited to partner with Erik Greupner and A.J. Preller to help guide the Padres forward in fulfillment of Peter’s vision. That vision includes the Padres remaining as a family asset for generations to come and is anchored in Peter’s dedication to the fans and community of San Diego. Our north star remains the same: to win a World Series Championship for the city of San Diego.”

No indication of spending. Nothing from the new leader.

“Peter’s Vision” is a vague statement, but those who knew the owner well knew he intended to keep spending.

The San Diego Padres are very close to hosting that parade. Some would argue that they had every opportunity last year to do so, but the baseball gods had other ideas. In order to be in that position again, the roster must look similar to what it did last season. The team will need to spend. The competitive window is open now. It can close at any time. The San Diego Padres must strike now while the iron is hot.

Will the team spend this winter?

To some degree, they will. They need to. But will they just pay the minimum, or will they go the extra mile to help secure a world title for the city of San Diego?

Only time will tell.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.