Padres GM AJ Preller Reveals Reasoning for Wandy Peralta Signing

The San Diego Padres have flown under the radar this offseason. However, the Padres have made minor moves to make some noise in 2024, including signing lefty veteran reliever Wandy Peralta. 

Peralta and the Padres agreed to a four-year, $16.5 million contract a couple of days ago. It was no secret the Padres needed more firepower out of the pen, and they certainly got it in Peralta. 

He's happy to be in San Diego, and general manager A.J. Preller is ecstatic to have him. Preller told The Athletics Dennis Lin why bringing the 32-year-old veteran to Southern California was important. 

“I think we have flexibility now with multiple lefties,” president of baseball operations A.J. Preller said. “I think (Peralta) will be able to fill a lot of different spots for us, honestly. And that was the attraction, was he can pitch really anywhere from (the sixth inning to the ninth inning).”

^{Per A.J. Preller via The Athletic}

Although the Padres were among the top-10 in bullpen ERA last year, they lost some of that punch in Josh Hader. Hader left for the Houston Astros, leaving a massive hole in the Friars' bullpen.

However, with their new addition, including Peralta, Yuki Matsui, Woo-Suk Go, and Enyel De Los Santos, they are sure to make up for some of what they'll miss from Hader. 

If Peralta continues the dominance we saw in New York, the Friars will be in good shape. The lefty reliever recorded a 2.83 ERA in 63 games, allowed a .190 average and recorded 51 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched. 

On paper, San Diego has themselves one heck of a reliever who can shut down innings when called upon.