SANTO DOMINGO. The San Diego Padres continue to explore the market with the intention of making a significant move during the offseason, but any high-impact transaction will not include Dominican superstar Fernando Tatis Jr., as confirmed by General Manager A.J. Preller.
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Amidst the intense winter rumors, Preller was categorical in ruling out the possibility of Tatis Jr. being part of a trade, even as the club evaluates aggressive options to reinforce its roster. "It's someone we won't mention, you can interpret it any way you want," Preller declared to journalist Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune during the Winter Meetings. "If you want to call him 'untouchable,' that's how you can describe him." The executive's stance reaffirms that Tatis Jr. continues to be the cornerstone of the Padres' project, despite speculation about a possible restructuring of the team after an irregular campaign. Under Preller's direction, San Diego has been characterized by surprising moves in the offseason, which keeps the club among the most watched in the market. Although the Winter Meetings passed without activity for the organization, the executive made it clear that significant maneuvers could still occur — only that none of them will involve the star Dominican player. Thus, the Padres will continue to build their competitive plan for 2026 around Tatis Jr., who remains firm as one of the team's pillars.






