Padres predicted to cut ties with projected $38 million All-Star this winter

The San Diego Padres are going to be one of the teams to watch this winter.

Under president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, the Padres have never been known to play things conservatively. They've both traded for Juan Soto and traded him away. They've both signed huge free-agent contracts and slashed payroll. It's hard to know exactly what to expect this time around.

Though the Padres had a fantastic season, it could be tricky to duplicate the success they had in 2024 if some of their key players walk in free agency. That includes one of the players who was the heart and soul of this San Diego ballclub for much of the season.

Outfielder Jurickson Profar was phenomenal for the Padres in 2024, making his first career All-Star team after signing a one-year, $1 million contract to return to his former team. The Padres simply wouldn't have gone as far as they did without him, yet there's still every chance Profar might not be back in 2025.

Profar will have a much more robust market after his standout season this winter, and that could cost the Padres the chance to retain him. Zachary Rotman of FanSided predicted on Monday that Profar would not return to the Padres in 2025.

"Profar is going to get paid like the All-Star he was in 2024, or at least close to it. If the Padres are willing to spend that much on a player, they'd benefit by spending it on a player who has a better track record," said. "If Profar will take less to remain with San Diego that'd be great, but with this being his best chance to cash in on a big-money deal, it's hard to predict that."

Heading into his age-32 season, Profar will be looking to cash in his biggest free-agent contract ever. It's likely the best market he'll ever have, and it could even be his last chance to sign a multi-year deal after one-year contracts in each of the past two years.

Profar isn't going to entertain offers anywhere near the $1 million he signed for last winter, that's for certain. After a campaign where he had career-highs in OPS (.839) and WAR (3.7), Spotrac currently projects that he will sign for three years and $38 million.

It's been a great run for Profar in San Diego, and the door isn't closed on him returning there one more time. But the Padres are going to have to pay up if they want him back, and that might not be in the cards.

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