If you heard a collective sigh of relief, it came from the Friar Faithful this morning.
San Diego Union-Tribune writer Kevin Acee reported (subscription required) the San Diego Padres and President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller have agreed on a multi-year contract extension.
The agreement ends the speculation of Preller’s potential departure that surfaced this winter. His previous deal would have expired at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
In an official team statement, Padres chairman John Seidler praised Preller for his commitment to winning and positioning the franchise for sustained success.
The Friars are coming off consecutive 90-plus win seasons, as the club has reached the postseason four out of the last six seasons (2020, 2022, 2024, and 2025). Plus, the team set a new attendance record at Petco Park with over 3.4 million fans last season.
Preller is affectionately known as the “Rockstar GM” by the Friar Faithful for his ability to make numerous player moves in a rapid-fire manner.
His first offseason saw Preller orchestrate 10 trades before the start of the 2015 season. He showed the willingness to trade top prospects for talent who can make an immediate impact on the field.
At the 2020 trade deadline, he completed six trades in less than 72 hours. Preller overhauled the roster, shedding 16 players while landing 10 new additions in return. The trades ignited the Friars to make their first postseason appearance in his tenure.
Hired by the Padres in August of 2014, Preller is now the second-longest tenured baseball executive in the majors, trailing only Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees.
No terms of the contract extension were announced.