San Diego Padres extend qualifying offer to Adrian Morejon

Adrian Morejon has become one of the best relief pitchers in Major League Baseball. Consistently topping 100 MPH, he’s the hardest throwing lefty in any bullpen in the game. He’s also a free agent, and that kind of stuff is going to make him a hot commodity when he hits the open market.

On Monday the San Diego Padres made Morejon one of either players across the league to receive the qualifying offer, a one-year contract worth $23.15 million. If he rejects it, which historically is the most common result in this situation (only 18 of 157 players offered the QO have accepted it), the Padres would receive draft pick compensation from any team that signs him.

Morejon has basically grown up in the Padres organization. The club signed him as a 16-year-old out of Cuba in 2016 and he’s been with the Friars ever since. He started his time in professional baseball as a starting pitcher but a string of injuries prompted a move to the bullpen, where his career took off. Morejon made his first All-Star team in 2025 and followed that up with what was arguably an even better season in 2026, finishing in the top-5 among MLB relievers in innings, appearances, and strikeouts.

At the end of July his name was being kicked around as a possible trade chip and Morejon talked about how much he wanted to remain a part of the only organization he’s ever known. Adrian has the arsenal of an elite big league closer, but in San Diego he’ll likely be locked out of 9th inning duties by Mason Miller, one of the few pitchers on earth with an even more dominant repertoire.

It’s possible that Morejon bucks the trend and accepts the QO to spend at least one more season at Petco Park. However, some team is going to offer him closer-level money, a multi-year deal worth something in the range of $15 million to $20 million per annum. If the Padres come close to that number there’s a very good chance he would stick around for the long-term, even without the prospect of becoming a closer.

The full list of QO recipients looks like this:

Adrian Morejon, RP (Padres)
Randy Arozarena, OF (Mariners)
Jake Bauers, 1B (Brewers)
Brandon Lowe, 2B (Pirates)
Seiya Suzuki, OF (Cubs)
Trevor Rogers, SP (Orioles)
Ryan Jeffers, C (Twins)
David Bednar, RP (Yankees)

There was a small possibility Padres 1st baseman Ty France could be on that list but the club decided not to offer him one. France is coming off the best season of his career and due for a mammoth raise from the $1.35 million he played for in 2026, but likely not to the level of $23 million per season.

Fellow free agent pitchers Michael King and Robbie Ray have received the QO before and are therefore ineligible to get it again. Another free agent starter, Casey Mize, is also ineligible because he was traded mid-season.

It’s worth noting that Arozarena, Lowe, Rogers, and Suzuki are all players the Padres could be interested in as potential free agent fits.

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