Good Morning San Diego: Padres FanFest gets Friar Faithful excited for 2026; Padres admit there is still work to be done

The San Diego Padres held their annual Padres FanFest at Petco Park and fans came out to see the organizational leadership and the some of the players who were in attendance. One of the fans who made the trip to the ballpark and committed to a full day was Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball. She gives insights from her time at Petco Park, which included Q&A sessions and overall observations. One critical phrase Bell heard throughout the day was “World Series.” Brent McGuire of Padres.com captured a similar sentiment stating vibes were high and one specific reason for that was the return of pitcher Joe Musgrove to the starting rotation.

Padres News:

• Many members of the San Diego baseball organization spoke at Padres FanFest and one thing admitted by most of them is there is still work to be done. General Manager A.J. Preller said he is still looking to make additions to the roster as the start of Spring Training draws near.
• Some important notes came out of Padres FanFest, which included Nick Pivetta opting to focus on the MLB season rather than competing in the World Baseball Classic; Gavin Sheets is currently the starter at first base and Luis Campusano is currently in line to be the backup catcher.
• A contract extension for Preller is still not done and that has some fans wondering if an extension will happen at all. Preller said he is confident he and the team can reach an agreement but added that he has been more focused on completing the roster.

Baseball News:

• Former Padre Luis Arraez and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract. Arraez wanted an opportunity to return to second base and that is where he will play in San Francisco.
• Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will not pitch in the WBC and will prepare for the regular season.
• The Chicago White Sox agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Austin Hays.
• Dominican Republic added Arizona Diamondbacks infielders Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo and New York Yankees reliever Camilo Doval to the WBC roster.
• The Seattle Mariners held their FanFest, Saturday and part of the festivities was the announcement they will wear Seattle Steelheads black-and-white uniforms for Sunday home games. The uniforms are said to honor the legacy of the 1946 Negro League team.