4 items on Padres' agenda after Shildt's deal

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A.J. Preller hasn't gotten to congratulate Mike Shildt in person yet. But that'll come soon enough.

On Wednesday, Shildt and the Padres finalized a two-year extension that will keep him at the helm through 2027. Preller formally made the announcement from the General Managers Meetings in San Antonio, on a Zoom call.

"This," Preller said, "is kind of the start of the offseason."

He started it in a big way, with a managerial extension -- even if it was a largely anticipated move, considering Shildt's successful first season and the fact that he only had one year remaining on his deal.

With that off Preller’s to-do list, here's what comes next:

1. Finalize the coaching staff

This could be the next domino to fall. Preller even hinted as much on Wednesday, noting an announcement is possible in the next week or two.

"We’ve been having conversations with everybody on that staff," Preller said. "And I think it’s really about bringing that group back and building on the success from this year and having that continuity. That was important to Mike."

Under Preller, the Padres have preferred to unveil their entire coaching staff in one singular announcement. That means some of those deals are likely done in principle already -- including pitching coach Ruben Niebla.

"It’s clear he wants to be here," Preller said. "He knows we want him to be here. When we announce the staff, I think you’ll see: We’re going to reward the people that perform. Ruben’s been a big performer. Looking forward to him being a big part of the Padre organization for a long time."

2. Move on Profar

Of all the Padres' departing free agents, there's no reunion that makes more sense than Jurickson Profar. He's thrived in San Diego, while struggling just about everywhere else. The Padres clearly love having him. Now, the dollars and cents need to match up.

Profar officially became a free agent on Monday, after the Padres chose not to extend a qualifying offer to him or Ha-Seong Kim. On Wednesday, Preller addressed those decisions for the first time.

"Profar and Kim, they've been a big part of this thing," he said. "Just feel like that wasn't quite the direction we wanted to go on a one-year situation. But that doesn't close the door on either player."

Profar is the more obvious fit, as the Padres need a left fielder, and Preller confirmed that he has engaged with Profar's camp.

"I've already extended out the start of those conversations," Preller said. "But he's somebody that's earned the right to be a free agent, so we'll kind of see where that takes us.

"Same thing with Ha-Seong."

Speaking of ...

3. At shortstop and catcher, plan around the future

A year ago, the Padres didn't have their shortstop plan in place until the first day of Spring Training when they asked Xander Bogaerts to move to second base, freeing the position for Kim. Preller has expressed a preference to have that decision made earlier this offseason.

It's possible Bogaerts simply slides back to short, with Jake Cronenworth at second. It's also possible the Padres look to add externally -- whether it's Kim, a different starter, or a backup for Bogaerts.

At catcher, it's simpler: The Padres need to add, having lost Kyle Higashioka and Elias Díaz to free agency.

So ... catcher and shortstop? As it would happen, the Padres' top two prospects -- Ethan Salas and Leodalis De Vries -- play catcher and shortstop, respectively. They’re not expected to become regulars in 2025. But with their arrivals on the horizon, is Preller only looking for short-term pieces at those spots?

“That’ll all be part of that conversation in the next couple weeks and months, knowing that we have some guys that we think really highly of,” Preller said. “That’ll factor in. You’re never going to walk away from somebody you feel like has real value or is a really talented player. But understanding that, big picture, we think we have young players that are not terribly far away that can hopefully play for a long time.”

4. The rotation is paramount

The foundation is strong. In Dylan Cease, Michael King and Yu Darvish, the Padres have three frontline starters.

But beyond that? Things got a lot trickier with Joe Musgrove’s elbow injury, which will cost him the 2025 season. Martín Pérez is also a pending free agent. Sure, Randy Vásquez and Matt Waldron filled in admirably at times. But the Padres would rather enter 2025 with them as depth options.

“Pérez is a free agent, and Joe’s a big loss,” Preller said. “The innings he gives and what he brings on the field and in the clubhouse. You’re always looking to add starting pitching. But this year, with Joe being out, that’s a spot that we’ve got to address for sure.”

Preller has proven adept at landing quality starters via trade (as he did with Musgrove, Cease, Darvish and King). He’s also proven adept at finding reliever types and -- with Niebla’s help -- converting them into starters (as he did with King and Seth Lugo). On Wednesday, Preller mentioned both paths as possibilities.