Questions about the Padres’ ownership are having an impact on free agency.
At least that was the impression that Jurickson Profar gave Friday, when he met with Atlanta media in a video call.
The 31-year-old switch-hitter signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Braves on Thursday. Profar said Atlanta and the Padres were his top choices, but that San Diego did not come close to matching Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulous’ push to reel him in.
“Obviously the Padres have some issue with the ownership and all that,” Profar said. “It was difficult to go back (to San Diego), but Alex showed a lot, a lot of interest in me and I loved that. He gave me a lot of confidence to come to a team and to perform.
“People show confidence like that, it gives you a boost.”
Profar started for the NL in last year’s All-Star Game, a boon for both him and the Padres after the two united late in spring training on a $1 million deal that included incentives.
Among the Padres’ free agents, Profar, reliever Tanner Scott (Dodgers), catcher Kyle Higashioka (Rangers), infielder Donovan Solano (Mariners) and left-hander Martín Pérez (White Sox) have signed with new teams. Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim and outfielder David Peralta are still on the open market.
The Padres have five open spots on their 40-man roster, but the only hot-stove buzz this offseason has centered on their failed attempt to add Roki Sasaki via international free agency.
The Padres cut some $90 million from their opening day payroll from 2023 to 2024, and the team appears to be targeting a payroll in the same neighborhood of last year’s final number: $183.9 million, 15th in the majors according to spotrac.com.
Current Union-Tribune projections have the Padres at about $196.9 million, meaning the team could be looking to move players off the books — Dylan Cease and Luis Arraez have popped up in trade rumors — while addressing the holes they have in the rotation, behind the plate and Profar’s old spot in left field.
Earlier this month, Sheel Seidler — the widow of former Padres chairman Peter Seidler — filed a suit in a Texas court contesting control of the franchise. The suit accuses two of Peter Seidler’s brothers of “fiduciary breaches of trust” and seeks to void last month’s announcement of John Seidler as the team’s new control person. The lawsuit has complicated at least the perception of team business this offseason, based on Profar’s passing comments on Friday.
Profar touched on a wide variety of topics on Friday’s call with Atlanta media, from his work with Fernando Tatis Sr. ahead of last year’s career year with the Padres, his longtime friendship with fellow Curacao native and new Braves teammate Ozzie Albies and 7-year-old son Khairy’s enthusiasm to see his dad play alongside Ronald Acuña Jr.
On Friday, Profar took to Instagram to show appreciation for his time in San Diego:
“San Diego will always hold a special place in my heart,” he wrote. “Thank you to my teammates, coaches, the medical staff, ownership, and everyone else who has been a part of this journey. I will miss the relationships I made on a personal level, and the unwavering support you all showed me during my time in San Diego. To the fans, thank you for making me one of your own. I can still hear the “Pro-far” chants echoing throughout Petco Park. Those chants motivated me to work hard and do my best to achieve great things for the city. The way you embraced my family, and made us feel at home, truly means the world to me.”
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