San Diego Padres extend qualifying offer to Adrian Morejon

Adrian Morejon has become one of the best relief pitchers in Major League Baseball. Consistently topping 100 MPH, he's the hardest throwing lefty in any bullpen in the game. He's also a free agent, and that kind of stuff is going to make him a hot commodity when he hits the open market.

On Monday the San Diego Padres made Morejon one of either players across the league to receive the qualifying offer, a one-year contract worth $23.15 million. If he rejects it, which historically is the most common result in this situation (only 18 of 157 players offered the QO have accepted it), the Padres would receive draft pick compensation from any team that signs him.

Morejon has basically grown up in the Padres organization. The club signed him as a 16-year-old out of Cuba in 2016 and he's been with the Friars ever since. He started his time in professional baseball as a starting pitcher but a string of injuries prompted a move to the bullpen, where his career took off. Morejon made his first All-Star team in 2025 and followed that up with what was arguably an even better season in 2026, finishing in the top-5 among MLB relievers in innings, appearances, and strikeouts.