Wandy Peralta exercised his $4.45 million player option to return to the San Diego Padres for the 2027 season, according to MLB.com. The decision locks in a veteran bullpen piece just as the Padres’ rotation picture grows uncertain.
Peralta, 35, originally signed a four-year deal with San Diego before 2024 that included player options for 2026 and 2027.
What It Means For San Diego’s Pitching Plans
Peralta’s decision to stay comes as the Padres lose rotation depth. The team declined its $14 million team option on starter Nick Pivetta, making him a free agent. Several other veteran starters, Michael King, Casey Mize, Robbie Ray and Walker Buehler, are either free agents or have opted out, leaving the Padres with gaps to fill in 2027.
Joe Musgrove, who is working back from Tommy John surgery, and Randy Vásquez stand as the primary returning rotation options for San Diego. With that much roster turnover looming on the starting side, a known commodity like Peralta in the bullpen gives the front office one fewer position to address this winter.
Peralta’s Season And Career Context
Peralta turned in a 3.61 ERA across 65 appearances in 2026, including five starts. The appearance total underscores how heavily San Diego leaned on him out of the bullpen, and the five starts show the Padres used him in a multi-inning or opener capacity at times during the year.
His track record in San Diego now spans three seasons under the four-year contract he signed before 2024, a deal structured to give him control over his final two years through the player options.
What’s Next For The Padres
With Peralta’s bullpen spot settled, San Diego’s immediate offseason focus shifts to replacing the rotation depth lost through Pivetta’s free agency and the departures of King, Mize, Ray and Buehler. The Padres have not announced any rotation additions following the Pivetta decision, and Musgrove’s return from Tommy John surgery remains a key variable for how the 2027 starting staff takes shape.
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