ORLANDO, Fla. — The Padres arrived at the winter meetings having established the level at which they plan to spend in 2026.

It should be a familiar number.

“We anticipate payroll will remain at a similar level to last year,” Padres chairman John Seidler said Monday. “… We’re operating the club as we have for the last five or six years.”

Seidler’s assertion was consistent with what sources have said throughout the offseason — that the looming sale of the team will not affect ownership’s investment in the club.

That means the Padres plan to again have a payroll that ranks among the top 10 in Major League Baseball in 2026 and are virtually guaranteed to pass the Competitive Balance Tax threshold and pay the corresponding penalty for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in six

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