Padres Offer Adrian Morejon $23.15 Million Qualifying Contract

Morejon was among eight major league free agents given a one-year offer worth $23.15 million, a record amount for the qualifying-offer system. The other recipients are Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners, Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs, Jake Bauers of the Milwaukee Brewers, David Bednar of the New York Yankees, Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins, Brandon Lowe of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Trevor Rogers of the Baltimore Orioles.

Each player has until November 17, 2026 to decide. Accepting means playing the 2027 season for his current team at the offered salary. A player who declines can sign elsewhere, while his former team becomes eligible for a compensatory draft pick. A club signing a player who rejected an offer also faces a draft-pick penalty, which varies with the teams’ financial classifications.

Morejon, a left-hander, had a career-best regular season as San Diego’s most-used reliever. He appeared in 76 games and pitched 86 innings, compiling a 9-3 record, a 2.83 ERA and 107 strikeouts. The offer is a substantial sum for a pitcher whose role has been in relief; the Padres could also consider deploying him in the rotation, with over half of their 2026 starting staff nearing free agency.

The club has Mason Miller as its established closer, while Morejon could not pitch in the closing stages of San Diego’s National League Division Series matchup with Milwaukee after extensive use. He could accept and revisit free agency later, or reject the offer and still return to San Diego. If he signs with another team, the Padres could receive a 2027 draft pick.

Qualifying offers have rarely been accepted: 18 players took one between 2012 and 2025, including a record four last year. The eight offers this offseason are fewer than the 13 issued in each of the previous two years.