4 Padres roster battles to watch as games begin

Who Will Win the Battle for the Padres' Fifth Rotation Spot?

In an interview on February 10, 2026, skipper Craig Stammen was asked if he expected additional moves from AJ Preller. His response was, “AJ’s always got something up his sleeve…don’t put anything past him.” Stammen couldn’t have put it any better. From that day forward, Preller has signed Miguel Andújar, Nick Castellanos, and Ty France for lineup depth while adding Germán Márquez, Walker Buehler, and Griffin Canning for the rotation. Currently,…

4 Padres roster battles to watch as games begin

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Padres begin Cactus League play on Friday at 12:10 p.m. PT against the Mariners at the Peoria Sports Complex. The game will be available for free on MLB.TV. Here’s a look at the four spring roster battles to watch and the candidates for each: