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  • San Diego Padres Trade & Free Agent Rumors

    Follow the latest San Diego Padres trade and free agent rumors, along with quick notes on the big league club, the minor leagues and the draft.
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    Matthew Lenz
    Whether or not they add at the deadline, the San Diego Padres will receive a boost to their starting rotation when Michael King returns to the rotation, which may happen sooner rather than later. 
    In front of a pool of reporters on Friday, Friars manager Mike Shildt shared that starting pitcher King "felt good" after a bullpen on Wednesday and is scheduled for a simulated start on Monday.
    In 10 starts, covering 55 2/3 innings, King posted an excellent 2.59 ERA. He carried a solid strikeout rate with a K% of 28.4% and a good walk rate at 7.6%, leading to a strong K-BB% of 20.8%. He even threw his first career complete game shutout in April. Unfortunately, his season was interrupted in May when he was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, which was later diagnosed as a nerve impingement. He was subsequently transferred to the 60-day injured list in early July. 
    How much can we count on Michael King to bolster the Padres rotation? Join the conversation in the comments!

    Matthew Lenz
    It has been speculated that the San Diego Padres could be both buyers and sellers over the next week. Most notably, the team is reportedly open to moving rotation ace Dylan Cease, though they're also looking to add to the rotation, whether they deal Cease or not.
    Moreover, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic is reporting that teams are interested in San Diego Padres' pitchers Stephen Kolek, Ryan Bergert, Henry Baez, and Braden Nett.
    Kolek, who transitioned into a starting role after being primarily a reliever in 2024, has a 4.28 ERA across 13 starts with the Friars. Kolek's strikeout rate (K%) sits at 17.3%, and his walk rate (BB%) is 7.4%, resulting in a lowly K-BB% of 9.9%. While he has shown flashes of potential, including one complete game shutout, he's allowed at least three runs in five of his last six starts. He is controllable through 2029, which is a significant advantage for any team acquiring the right-handed pitcher.
    Bergert has had an intriguing season for the San Diego Padres, making six starts and 10 total appearances. He holds a respectable 2.84 ERA, though his FIP sits significantly higher at 4.26, suggesting that he might have benefited from some good fortune on balls in play. Bergert has recorded a solid K% of 23.1% but a below-average BB% of 10.8%. He was optioned to Triple-A El Paso in July, but like Kolek, he is controllable for many years.
    Baez and Nett are both succeeding in the Double-A San Antonio starting rotation. Baez is already on the 40-man roster, while Nett would need to be protected this winter.
    Should the Padres deal any of these arms? Join the conversation in the comments!

    Matthew Lenz
    After getting shot down by the Boston Red Sox (again) in their pursuit of Jarren Duran, the San Diego Padres are shifting their sights to other outfielder upgrades.
    Jon Heyman of the New York Post is reporting that the San Diego Padres are interested in outfielders Luis Robert Jr. and Ramon Laureano.
    The oft-injured Robert Jr. has stayed relatively healthy, playing in 84 games for the Chicago White Sox. He currently holds an OPS of .636 with 10 home runs, 37 runs scored, and 41 runs batted in. Additionally, he leads the league with 26 stolen bases. He is controllable through 2027 via club options over the next two seasons.
    Laureano has experienced a resurgence of sorts after years of dealing with injuries. With the Baltimore Orioles, he has an impressive .861 OPS with 14 home runs and four stolen bases. Defensively, he has been a valuable asset in the corner outfield, accumulating 3 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) with a plus arm. He will be a free agent at season's end.
    Would you rather the Padres acquire Robert Jr or Laureano? Join the conversation in the comments!

    Matthew Lenz
    One way or another, and whether it be at this trade deadline or sometime down the road, the San Diego Padres seem adamant to pry Jarren Duran away from the Boston Red Sox.
    Earlier today, Sean McAdam of MassLive provided yet another update between the two clubs. The Padres offered the Red Sox a package including SP Dylan Cease, C Ethan Salas, and another prospect (not top prospect Leo de Vries) in exchange for Duran, which was “quickly rejected.” McAdams later adds that while it's likely Duran is eventually traded, it's "unlikely" to happen this summer.
    Are you surprised the Red Sox did not take that offer? Are you open to the idea of the Padres offering more for Duran?Join the conversation in the comments!
    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!

    Samuel Cozart
    As the trade deadline approaches, a new name has entered the Padres’ radar. Dominican MLB insider Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital reported Tuesday that trade discussions between the Padres and Braves have “intensified”, with San Diego expressing heavy interest in DH Marcell Ozuna. 
    Gomez suggested that the Padres would send a return of RHP Francis Pena and RHP Ryan Bergert, the organization’s No. 18 and No. 21 prospects, to Atlanta.
    Ozuna would likely fill the DH spot in the Padres’ lineup, despite spending most of his career in left field. He has taken a step back at the plate this season, slashing .235/.361/.390 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI. However, he finished fourth in NL MVP voting in 2024, compiling an impressive line of .302/.378/.546, mashing 39 home runs and 104 RBI. 
    The 34-year-old is in the final year of a four-year $65 million contract, meaning he’d likely be a rental piece to help the Padres in their push for the postseason. 
    It would be a steep price for an aging rental player, so San Diego would need Ozuna to play similarly to his 2024 version to make it pay off. 
     
    Matthew Lenz
    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!

    Matthew Lenz
    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!

    Matthew Lenz
    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!

    Billy Mock
    The Padres selected Ty Harvey, a high school catcher out of Inspiration Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Harvey is a Florida State commit.
    The high school catching demographic is one of, if not the riskiest, demographics to draft from, as they are particularly difficult to project. Regardless, Harvey was one of the top high school catchers on the board due to his power projection at the plate as well as his advanced defense behind the plate. 
    While he does have some of the best raw power in the prep class this year, there appear to be some holes in the swing as MLB Pipeline's description of Harvey states, "others have seen him pull the ball hard but struggle with pitches down in the zone because of a stiff setup." The good news is that he has displayed above-average bat-to-ball skills for a power hitter his age, so that should help him tap into his power at the next level. 
    Harvey is big for a catcher, standing in at 6'2" and 215 pounds with even more projection in his frame. However, it looks like he'll have a good shot at remaining behind the plate. MLB Pipeline states that, "Harvey has every chance to stick behind the plate, with good hands and solid receiving skills. He moves well, especially for his size."
    Billy Mock
    Michael Salina, a 21-year-old junior from St. Bonaventure, has made school history as the highest draft pick to come from there. Salina came from the high school ranks in New York before opening his college career with George Mason as a reliever in his freshman year. He transferred to St. Bonaventure for his sophomore year, where he made 12 starts, posting a 4.78 ERA while striking out 64 in 58 1/3 innings.
    Salina's draft stock took a hit this spring after he suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery after just four starts. Prior to the injury, he owned a 4.15 ERA while striking out 35.1% of the batters he had faced. 
    His fastball stands out as the carrying tool as it sat in the mid to high-90s with great extension, and even reached as high as 102 mph. He throws a hard slider with two-plane movement to complement the slider, which profiles really well in a big league bullpen. While he has shown some success as a starter at the college level, the likely scenario is that he ends up in a relief role as a potential high-leverage option following his recovery. 
    Matthew Lenz
    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!
    Matthew Lenz
    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!
    Braden Ramsey
    Three things are certain in life: death, taxes, and the 2025 San Diego Padres currently having a crisis at catcher. Unfortunately, there's nothing any of us can do about the first two certainties. The third, however, is fixable. And according to a former MLB general manager, A.J. Preller is trying to rectify it in a big way.
    On Thursday's episode of Foul Territory, The Athletic's Jim Bowden claimed San Diego "would like to pry" 2023 All-Star catcher Sean Murphy away from the Atlanta Braves. Bowden's statement came during a segment centered on the Braves potentially becoming sellers at the trade deadline. He added that the Tampa Bay Rays were alongside the Padres as suitors for Murphy.
    Murphy, 30, won a Gold Glove in 2021 and received an MVP vote in 2022 while playing for the Oakland Athletics. Atlanta landed him after the 2022 campaign in a three-team trade involving the A's and Milwaukee Brewers, who acquired two-time Silver Slugger and All-Star catcher William Contreras from the Braves in the deal.
    At the moment, Murphy is the right-handed member of Atlanta's backstop platoon. Drake Baldwin -- his 24-year-old, left-handed hitting catching comrade -- has gotten acclimated to the majors quickly, posting a .278/.353/.489 slash line with 11 home runs and 31 RBI in 61 games entering play on Thursday.
    Murphy, who is tied with Contreras for the 11th-best fWAR among catchers (min. 100 PA), has been no slouch. His wRC+ (116) is 11th-best at the position (min. 100 PA) and he's a terrific defender. But Baldwin, whose fWAR (2.1) ranks sixth and wRC+ (136) slots fifth, has simply been the better hitter. And he's under team control through 2030 at a fraction of Murphy's cost.
    Last week, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported Murphy was "unlikely to move" at the Trade Deadline. The Braves have lost six of seven contests since then, though, which could lead them to sing a different tune over the next few weeks. If they alter course, expect Preller to be ready to pounce.
    All stats courtesy of FanGraphs as of 7/10/25.
    Matthew Lenz
    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!
    Brock Beauchamp
    Yu Darvish, the 38-year-old right-hander from Japan, is set to return to the mound Monday for the Padres after a lengthy absence due to injury. Darvish began experiencing right elbow inflammation during spring training and was initially placed on the 15-day injured list on March 27, retroactive to March 24. As the issue lingered, the Padres transferred him to the 60-day IL to give him additional time to recover.
    Darvish has not pitched in a major league game in 2025. The Padres and manager Mike Shildt have confirmed he’ll be activated to start against the Diamondbacks on July 8, albeit likely with a pitch limit.
    In 2024, Darvish made 16 starts, posting a 3.31 ERA, 4.08 FIP, and a 9.1 K/9. For his career, he has started 282 games with a 3.59 ERA and over 1,900 strikeouts.
    Darvish’s return gives a boost to the Padres' rotation. If healthy, he could play a pivotal role in the second half as San Diego looks to gain ground in the wild-card race.
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