Padres to offer new GM Preller payroll flexibility

San Diego's newly-minted general manager A.J. Preller won't be handcuffed by the type of strict payroll the Padres have maintained in years past. 

In an email to Corey Brock of MLB.com, Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler noted that the team has a "placeholder amount" for payroll for 2015, however, it's willing to take on more salary depending on what Preller hopes to accomplish. 

"That number could change significantly based on A.J.'s activities over the next 120 days," Fowler said.

Following a 2014 that saw San Diego finish 77-85 after taking on a franchise-high $90-million payroll, the Padres have committed approximately $41 million in guaranteed contracts for next season, according to Brock.