Padres Likely To Deal From Bullpen Depth To Improve Roster

[Steve Drumwright]

 

With a thin farm system and a bullpen that has depth, there is a likelihood that the San Diego Padres address needs on their major-league roster by dealing from their relief corps before Monday's 3 p.m. PT deadline.

That is according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, who posted an article Saturday saying sources inside and outside the organization that Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller will use the variety of bullpen arms to address areas such as the starting rotation. The Padres entered play Saturday one game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the third and final NL wild-card spot with two months left in the season.

While right-hander Mason Miller has basically been ruled out from being traded, the biggest name the Padres could move and bring back a good return is left-hander Adrian Morejon. Experiencing a banner season that has seen his velocity jump a few ticks and is regularly at 101 mph, Morejon is making $3.9 million this year, which leaves about $1.15 million to cover the rest of the season.

Morejon is a high-leverage reliever who is just 27 years old before he hits free agency. He could easily remain as a setup man for another established closer or could take over closer duties for a team needing stability in that role. He has a FIP of 2.49 (3.14 ERA) in 57⅓ innings over 50 games, with a 6.3% walk rate and 27% strikeout rate, the highest in his eight-year career other than a 31.6% mark in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Morejon is one of four left-handers in the Padres' bullpen, along with Wandy Peralta, Yuki Matsui and Kyle Hart.

Acee also notes that Preller could swing another deal like he pulled with the Baltimore Orioles to acquire outfielder Ramon Laureano and first baseman Ryan O'Hearn at last year's deadline, when he dealt away five 2024 draft picks, led by their second-, third- and fourth-rounders.

The Padres' system is routinely rated as the worst in MLB, but there are probably a dozen prospects that other teams would be interested in, especially in a package deal.

 

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