Matthew Lenz

The San Diego Padres, who have been rumored to be listening to offers onDylan Cease, may be looking to "replace" the rotation ace with another high-caliber pitcher from the Miami Marlins. Dennis Lin of The Athletic is reporting that the Padres have expressed interest in Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara. Alcantara's 2025 season has been a challenging one as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery. Through 20 starts and 104 innings pitched, Alcantara has a high 6.66 ERA, which is two runs higher than his FIP, suggesting he's been particularly unlucky with balls in play or hasn't received strong defensive support. His strikeout rate (K%) is down to 16.7%, and his walk rate (BB%) is up to 8.9%, leading to an abysmal K-BB% of 7.8%. While there have been a few promising starts, he has largely struggled to find the consistency that made him a Cy Young winner. He is controllable through next season with a $17.3 million salary. Out of all the pitchers that the Padres have been tied to, where does Sandy Alcantara fall on your list? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

To this point, rumors have been swirling about the San Diego Padres interest in bolstering up their rotation, bullpen, and adding a catcher at the deadline. Now, we can add another position to the rumor mill. Jon Heyman of the New York Post is reporting that the "...Padres are among many teams interested in [Steve] Kwan." Steven Kwan, controllable through 2027 via arbitration, has been a productive leadoff hitter and a Gold Glove-caliber defender for the Guardians in 2025. Through 94 games, he boasts an OPS of .741 with six home runs, 44 runs scored, and 32 runs batted in. On the basepaths, Kwan has been effective, stealing 11 bases. His defense remains a highlight, as he currently has 13 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), once again solidifying his status as one of the premier defensive outfielders in baseball. Given his production, controllability, and "many" suitors, he will be an expensive asset to acquire at the deadline. Do you think the San Diego Padres should acquire Stephan Kwan? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

Shortly after reporting that the Padres could move Dylan Cease, Buster Olney of ESPN is also reporting who a potential "replacement" may be in the rotation. According to Olney, the San Diego Padres have discussed a potential trade with the Baltimore Orioles involving starting pitcher Charlie Morton. Through 21 appearances (15 starts) covering 88.2 innings, Morton holds a 5.58 ERA. Though a FIP of 4.58 indicates he may be due for at least some positive regression. Morton's K% is 22.5% and his BB% is 10.0%, resulting in a low K-BB% of 12.5%. As his appearances suggest, he was moved to the bullpen for a period of time earlier in the season. It's hard to see how the Padres would really see him as a replacement of sorts to Cease. While adding him to the back end of the rotation wouldn't be a bad idea, the difference in the level of production between the two is significant. Should the San Diego Padres acquire Charlie Morton? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

The San Diego Padres plan to be buyers at the deadline in anticipation of a playoff push. Apparently, they may also be sellers. Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease is available at the trade deadline. Across 20 starts and 108.2 innings pitched, Cease's. ERA currently stands at 4.64, which is more than a full run higher than his FIP, suggesting he's experienced some bad luck or been hurt by his defense. Cease continues to be a high-strikeout pitcher, with a K% of 30.0% and a BB% of 8.4%, translating to an impressive K-BB% of 21.6%. He will be a free agent at season's end with incredible upside despite his under-performing surface stats. Cease is the type of player that the Padres could sell while still buying to fill other positions of need, such as catcher. Do you think the Padres should trade Dylan Cease? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

We can add on more name to the long list of players the San Diego Padres are kicking the tires one. Dennis Lin of The Athletic is reporting that "[Chicago White Sox catcher, Korey] Lee has drawn trade interest from the Padres". Lee, 27, 2025 season has been split between Triple-A Charlotte and the Chicago White Sox. In his limited MLB action this year (14 games, 28 at-bats), Lee is batting .250 with a .300 OBP and .357 SLG, contributing one RBI and no home runs. While these numbers represent an improvement over his previous major league campaigns, he was optioned back to Triple-A Charlotte on June 6th. In Charlotte, he has posted a .262 average with 6 home runs and 18 RBIs in 130 at-bats, showing a little more pop. All of that said, the former organizational top prospects career line of .192/.231/.315 in 521 plate appearances is rather uninspiring. Do you think the Padres should look to acquire Lee or look for a better option? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

Despite uncertainty around their ownership and previous reports that the might not be able to add salary, it appears the San Diego Padres will be aggressive at the deadline. After recently being tied to Sean Murphy of the Atlanta Braves, Sean McAdam of MassLive is reporting that the San Diego Padres have been "relentless in their pursuit of the Boston Red Sox Jarren Duran. Duran, controlled through 2028, has put together a solid 2025 campaign for the Red Sox. In 94 games. He boasts a .752 OPS, supported by a .260 batting average and a .318 on-base percentage, including 8 home runs and 15 stolen bases. It's been a different story on the defensive side of the ball. Primarily playing left field, his defensive metrics show a Fielding Run Value of -5 and Outs Above Average of -5. Regardless, he'll fetch a good return if he is dealt. Should the Padres pay what it will take to land Jarren Duran, if he's available? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

Despite questions surrounding the San Diego Padres ownership group and their willingness to increase payroll, we got some clarification on what the team hopes to accomplish at the upcoming trade deadline.\ Over the weekend, San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller joined MLB Network Radio stating that the Padres hope to add “a bat or two” and possibly “strength” in the bullpen. The Padres rank in the bottom half of baseball in most offensive categories and could use help at multiple positions around the diamond. Moreover, the lineup is relatively healthy and they don't have strong reinforcements ready for a call up on their Triple-A El Paso roster. It's interesting he's targeting a bullpen piece as they are currently one of the strongest units in baseball. However, relievers production can be hard to predict and fluctuate and, as the old adage goes, you can never have enough pitching. While they have a stronger need for a rotation arm, that market is going to be thin likely driving up the cost of impact arms. The Padres may not be willing or even have the farm system to pay up for a starting pitcher. This is also a position group that hopes to be bolstered by reinforcements returning from injury, such as Yu Darvish who is scheduled to make his season debut on Tuesday. Who do you think the Padres should target at the deadline? Let us know in the comments! View full rumor

Despite being in the thick of a playoff race, San Diego Padres fans are uncertain of the approach the team will take at the upcoming trade deadline. With the office struggling, some start to wonder if Luis arise, who is on an expiring deal, will be traded at the deadline. In a question and answer thread for The Athletic, Dennis Lin said "it doesn't seem likely ". Arraez, in his first full season with the club, is set to be a free agent at seasons end. With a .286 batting average, the former batting champ hasn't been as productive this season. He's been a league average producer, but with almost no power his .717 OPS feels rather empty. In all, he's accrued 0 WAR this season Do you think the Padres should trade the utility infielder turned first baseman? View full rumor

The Atlanta Braves are potential sellers at the upcoming trade deadline, though currently sit just six games back of a spot in the National League Wild Card race. Of the names that could be dealt, Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that designated hitter Marcell Ozuna "is included in a lot of trade speculation". Though Ozuna has no versatility, the San Diego Padres could benefit from adding Ozuna to their struggling lineup. Currently, first baseman and outfielder Gavin Sheets has been getting the bulk of the reps at DH. He's been very productive at the plate with an .789 OPS and 12 home runs, resulting in a 122 wRC+. While defense has never been a strength, he has the versatility to be removed as the team's primary DH to make room for at-bats from Ozuna. Money and prospect capital could be another hindrance to acquiring Ozuna, who has a 126 wRC+ this season. The Padres currently have questions with their ownership group and it's unclear if they are willing to add money to their payroll. While Ozuna is set to be a free agent at seasons end, he would be owed a prorated amount of his $16 million 2025 salary. Moreover, the Padres have a weak farm system limiting the caliber of player(s) they could add at the upcoming deadline. Do you think the Padres should kick the tires on Ozuna? Join the conversation in the comments! View full rumor

After 95 abysmal plate appearances this season, the San Diego Padres have DFA'd Jason Heyward. Heyward, 36, is slashing .176/.223/.271 with two home runs this season. That..."production"...is good for a 38 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR. This likely marks the end of a solid, 15-year career for Heyward, who played in 1,824 games for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Padres. A highly touted prospect, Heyward maybe didn't live up to those expectations but ended up as a 34.9 fWAR player for his career. View full rumor

The injury timeline for San Diego Padres starting pitcher, Michael King, who hasn't been on the field since May 18, just got a little bit clearer. AJ Cassavell of MLB.com is reporting that Padres manager Mike Schildt doesn't anticipate Michael King to be available until after the All-Star break. That timeline will put the Padres in a precarious position with the trade deadline looming. It's likely that come the end of July there will still be uncertainty surrounding kings availability, and how quickly he can build up from a two plus month shoulder injury. Considering that timeline, as well as the Padres ownership issues, do you anticipate them being active at the deadline? If they are, what areas of need would you like to see them address? View full rumor

With the July 31st trade deadline looming on the horizon, urgency will begin to mount for many Major League Baseball teams. While some clubs are firmly entrenched in playoff contention and will be looking to bolster their rosters, there is a distinct group already facing the reality of a lost season. So, who are the likely sellers from the National League? What valuable assets might they put on the market, and how could the San Diego Padres leverage these opportunities to their advantage? Let's delve into the teams poised to ignite the hot stove and the potential impact on the Padres’ playoff aspirations. Colorado Rockies The Rockies are on pace for all sorts of records - and not in a good way. They are currently on pace to win 31 ball games, which is 10 fewer than the Chicago White Sox won in 2024. The Rockies don't have many rentals, with starters German Márquez (6.62 ERA) and Austin Gomber (recently returned from a shoulder injury) being the only expiring deals, but that's not to say they don't have trade chips. Most notably, I anticipate many teams will be calling about starter Kyle Freeland (controlled through 2026) and third baseman Ryan McMahon (controlled through 2027). Freeland’s surface numbers are heavily inflated by pitching in Coors. On the road, the lefty has a 3.64 ERA (3.31 FIP) and a 14.6% strikeout minus walk rate. Regarding McMahon, Bob Nightengale of USA Today has reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have already shown interest in the 30-year-old. Like Freeland, McMahon’s surface stats are also impacted by Coors - a .739 OPS overall drops by nearly 200 points on the road. Other less notable names that could be available are infielders Thairo Estrada and Kyle Farmer, who both have mutual options for 2026. Miami Marlins The Marlins are 15 games under .500 and well outside of the playoff picture. However, they are the youngest team in Major League Baseball, which makes it a challenge to know how much they're willing to sell. Kyle Stowers, Connor Norby, and Agustín Ramírez have all been great, but they're also in their pre-arbitration years. Would the rebuilding Marlins really sell what looks to be a solid core of hitters? I doubt it. On the other hand, starting pitchers Cal Quantrill (a free agent at season's end) and Sandy Alcántara (controllable through 2026) could be attractive “buy low” options at the deadline. Quantrill has an ERA minus FIP of 1.27 and Alcántara, a former Cy Young award winner, has underperformed his ERA by 2.43 runs. However, both have well below average strikeout minus walk rates, suggesting their upside might be limited with some tweaking of their pitch profiles. The Marlins have gotten some good production out of their bullpen from guys like Ronny Henriquez, Janson Junk, and Patrick Monteverde. While these guys are controllable, it would make sense for the Marlins to listen to offers on any relievers. Pittsburgh Pirates The Pirates are in a race for second worst team in the NL with the Marlins. There's been (mostly sarcastic) speculation that they may trade starter Paul Skenes, but I don't think they will do that - for now. Instead, they have a few assets who will likely have a market over the next month and a half. There's already been rumors floating around regarding infielder Isiah Kiner-Faleda, who has a solid (but empty) .714 OPS. Other solid players on expiring deals include outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Tommy Pham, as well as starter Andrew Heaney, and reliever Ryan Burocki. Aside from Burocki, whose peripherals suggest some positive regression, all players have been more than serviceable this season. However, the most valuable realistic trade chip is current closer David Bednar, who is controlled through the 2026 season. In 20 appearances, the righty has a 3.42 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and a 29.2% strikeout minus walk rate. He may end up being the most sought after reliever on the market. Padres’ Needs The recent re-linking of the Padres to Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran speaks volumes about their offensive struggles. Unfortunately, their needs extend far beyond that. With an OPS ranking well below average at multiple positions, the Padres require offensive upgrades across the board. A potential fit could be with the Pirates or Rockies, who have versatile infielders potentially available. While adding to their rotation wouldn't hurt, it's a distant second to their pressing offensive issues. Complicating matters, the Padres' ownership situation could limit their flexibility. Speculation during the offseason suggested a desire to stay under the luxury tax threshold, a constraint that would significantly hamstring their activity at the deadline. Though one they may have to overlook to compete with the top of the National League. What do you believe the Padres should prioritize at the deadline to address these widespread needs? Join the conversation in the comments! View full article