MLB Winter Meetings takeaways: Padres make big pitching decision

ORLANDO — The San Diego Padres have seemingly answered one of their biggest offseason questions. However, the answer opens up more questions for a team looking to get back to the postseason in 2026.

There has been plenty of buzz this offseason that the Padres might convert reliever Mason Miller into a starter as a way to fill in some of San Diego's rotation needs. However, new manager Craig Stammen said on Monday afternoon that Miller will continue to be a part of San Diego's late-inning options in 2026.

"It's a risky proposition health-wise and performance-wise," Stammen said of potentially stretching out the 27-year-old right-hander.

With that decision, the Padres could have Miller as their closer this season, with Robert Suarez currently a free agent. However, while the back end may be solidified, San Diego has a lot of work to do to fill holes in the rotation left by the departures of Dylan Cease and Michael King, as well as the elbow injury that will keep Yu Darvish off the mound in 2026.

Granted, Miller was one potential option for the rotation, and more rotation work would need to be done by San Diego even if Miller had become a starter. Now the Padres will be in the hunt for multiple starters and may potentially use a trade (potentially Jake Cronenworth) to land some pitching help.

Cincinnati Reds using good, bad from 2025 run in 2026

The last time we saw the Cincinnati Reds, they were being swept out of the postseason by the eventual world champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

While the Reds impressed to get to the postseason, posting an 83-79 mark in 2025 after going 77-85 in 2024, manager Terry Francona is hopeful his team remembers not only what went right for them last season but also what went wrong at the end as well.

"I think we all got a taste of what it can feel like to pop champagne, which is good. Then a couple of days later, we also felt the sting of getting beat up two quick games and getting sent home before you want to," Francona said. "I told our guys to remember both those feelings."

Cardinals trying to keep "balance" amid trade rumors

The St. Louis Cardinals have trade rumors swirling around them, with the possibilities of Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Lars Nootbaar and others being traded as the franchise looks to retool the roster.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol knows that if those veterans are lost that St. Louis may see a youth movement kick into full season in 2026.

"There's an urgency to win, and there's a standard that we'll keep. But at the same time, you can't get frustrated if you're not getting the immediate results that you're looking for out of certain young guys," Marmol said. "You've got to keep your head down and make sure they feel supported. They understand what this looks like as well, so there is a balance to that."

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.