Evaluating Padres’ Most Discussed Trade Candidates

We know A.J. Preller loves to wheel and deal in the offseason, making bold moves and taking big risks. Usually, that means moving players around via trade, but with the current San Diego Padres roster now full of expensive and burdensome contracts, it's getting harder to project which players might be brought in... and who might be sent packing.

Here are a few Padres who could be moved this offseason via trade, and why. 

Gavin Sheets

Sheets was a breakout offensive star for the Padres, despite not doing much in the field. He was signed to a minor-league contract and had to fight just to make the team in 2025, but he proved himself and emerged as a reliable member of the lineup, splitting time between left field and DH. 

However, if the Padres are not sold on Sheets' ability to continue to improve in the long term, he's exactly the type of player who would make sense as a "sell-high" candidate. There are definitely teams who would be interested in an outfielder coming off a breakout year, and entering what would theoretically be his "prime." Ultimately, it will be up to how much the Padres value him. 

Bryce Johnson

Johnson probably will not be moved this offseason, but if a team is interested in the pinch-hit legend, the Padres should not hesitate to flip him for a more valuable asset. Johnson is a fun story, but not a starting-caliber player, and the Friars would be wise to recognize that and move him if they have the chance. 

Luis Campusano 

It's probably not going to happen because Campusano has simply been bad ever since being called up to the major leagues, but again, if the Padres are given an offer, it would be an easy decision to trade Campusano. The former top catching prospect has not done much of anything at the highest level, but the pedigree is there. Some catcher-needy team may come calling with a flier in hand that could interest Preller.

Randy Vasquez

Vasquez would make sense as a guy who could be traded as part of a larger deal. Obviously, the Padres will need at least one frontline starter to make up for the losses of Michael King, Dylan Cease, and Yu Darvish. Vasquez is the type of player who is a perfect trade chip as a "replacement" for an arm exiting a rotation (i.e., he could fill Freddy Peralta's spot in the Brewers rotation if Peralta is traded to the Padres). There would definitely be interest in Vasquez, who has improved in back-to-back seasons and looks like a promising young arm. 

David Morgan 

Morgan had a great second half of 2025 with the Padres, but he is still very new to the bullpen and has not yet graduated into many high-leverage scenarios. San Diego could dangle Morgan as a trade chip, and there would definitely be interested teams. At the same time, the Padres may be sitting on another reliever gold mine, so it might make the most sense to keep him around. 

Adrian Morejon

On the other hand, San Diego would get some serious offers if they shopped Adrian Morejon. The hard-throwing reliever has been incredible over the past two years, even making the All-Star Game in 2025. Being a left-handed reliever works in his favor, too. Multiple teams found out in the playoffs this year that you can never have too many left-handed relievers. 

Whether or not Preller pulls the trigger on a Morejon deal probably depends on how he feels about the rest of the bullpen and if the team believes it can also survive the loss of closer Robert Suarez. Again, it feels unlikely, but in terms of creating a blockbuster centerpiece, Morejon might be the best candidate on the roster.

Ultimately, this offseason will likely not feature nearly as many trades as past offseasons have. Nearly the entire starting lineup is locked into long-term contracts, while most of the rotation has reached free agency. It will be interesting to see how San Diego rebuilds and comes back stronger in 2026 with less flexibility (and prospect capital) to continue wheeling and dealing freely.