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  • San Diego Padres Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

    The latest San Diego Padres free agent and trade rumors, along with notes and tidbits about the team.
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    Steve Drumwright
    Not that the San Diego Padres needed additional catching depth, but they went out and drafted another backstop.
    With the first of two fourth-round selections, the Padres selected George Washington junior catcher Robbie Lavey with the 124th overall pick. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound left-handed hitter had a .339/.462/.526 slash line this season with 20 extra-base hits and 37 RBIs.
    His slot number is $620,300. Lavey is 20 years old.
    Lavey does a lot of things very well, but nothing overly well. His best trait is his arm, which has been graded as 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He is a line-drive hitter who makes good contact and can drive the ball.
    Defensively, he might need some work, but is a positive there more than a detriment behind the plate. The Padres have good catchers at every level, led by No. 1 prospect Ethan Salas.
    Steve Drumwright
    After going undrafted out of high school, right-handed starter Ryan Lynch bolstered his profile high enough for the San Diego Padres to select him in the third round (97th overall pick) in the 2026 MLB Draft.
    Lynch finished his sophomore season as part of North Carolina's starting rotation, posting a 4.21 ERA with 36 walks and 89 strikeouts over 98⅓ innings in 19 games, all but one a start. Lynch has a tremendous sinker that has reached 98 mph and sits at 94-96 mph. He also has a 83-85 mph slider that shows good depth. He also has a changeup that needs more development.
    At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he has an excellent frame, yet didn't have big strikeout numbers this year. He did excel in a relief role as a freshman and some see him more in that role than as a starter, with the potential of being a closer if he goes to the bullpen.
    The 97th pick has a bonus slotted at $808,100.
    DiamondCentric's Jamie Cameron had this to say about Lynch, who was 95th on his big board:
    "Lynch is a young for the class college pitcher who will turn 21 a month before the draft. He's occupied a number of roles in his two years for the Tar Heels, beginning as a reliever, before transitioning into a starting role in 2026. It's a frame with ingredients for starting. Lynch stands 6'3, 235 pounds and can maintain his velocity into his outings. There's some interesting release traits too, as Lynch gets good extension and throws from a low release height. There's interesting stuff, too. His best pitch is a power sinker with a ton of run. It typically sits 94 mph but has been up to 97 mph. Lynch frequently mixes in a slider with some depth and sweep, a curveball, and a changeup, although he relies on his sinker/slider combo. Results have been mixed as a full time starter in 2026 and there's some reliever risk here until Lynch can more consistently tap into a more diverse arsenal with regularity and effectiveness. Lynch ended 2026 with a 4.88 FIP in 98.1 innings of work, striking out 20.3% of hitters and walking 8.2%."
    He has delivery of more of a slinger, which helps with deception on his pitches and could also lead to some of his control issues.
    Steve Drumwright
    Could A.J. Preller make another blockbuster move involving Mason Miller at this year's trade deadline?
    Other front offices certainly think it is a possibility for the San Diego Padres, as MLB.com's Mark Feinsand laid out in this article.
    Preller, the Padres' president of baseball operations and general manager, made a huge splash at last year's deadline when he sent four prospects, led by shortstop Leo De Vries (at the time MLB Pipeline's No. 3 prospect in baseball), to the A's for Miller and left-handed starter JP Sears.
    In addition to his devastating repertoire as a closer, Miller is also attractive as he still has three more years of club control. That would benefit the Padres in terms of what they would get back from a team if Preller decides to sell. The Padres entered play Thursday at 46-46 and 4½ games out of the third and final NL wild-card spot.
    “They have to consider it if they keep playing like this,” an NL executive said. “They won’t get De Vries-type value back for him, but they’ll still do well if they trade him.”
    “I would think he would be capable of two Top 100 [players] or a Top 100 and another two players that are organizational Top 10s or so,” an NL executive said. “But I’m not sure they would feel it would be worth it.”
    Steve Drumwright
    The long road back for Jhony Brito has officially taken him to Petco Park.
    The Padres called up the right-hander from Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday and optioned right-hander Alek Jacob back to Triple-A.
    Brito, one of the five players the Padres acquired from the New York Yankees in the Juan Soto trade in 2024, is back in the majors with the Friars for the first time since that 2024 season. Brito began the 2025 season by having an internal brace procedure on his right elbow and flexor tendon surgery that April. He began a rehab assignment in early May and pitched well in the minors before being activated from the 60-day injured list and being assigned to El Paso.
    In four starts for the Chihuahuas, Brito has a 0.96 ERA in 18⅔ innings with nine walks and 19 strikeouts.
    Brito is expected to make his season debut in a relief role Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, following starter German Marquez.
    Jacob was called up Friday and appeared in just one game, tossing a much-needed three innings in Monday's series-opening 8-0 loss to the D'backs.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The Reaper is heading to the All-Star Game.
    Right-handed closer Mason Miller was the only San Diego Padres player selected Saturday to the NL roster for the All-Star Game on July 14 at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park.
    Miller, in his first full season with the Padres after being acquired at last year’s trade deadline, is an All-Star for the second time in his four-year career, having also been picked in 2024. Miller is tied for the NL lead in saves with 21 without blowing a save. Jhoan Duran of the Philadelphia Phillies and Riley O’Brien of the St. Louis Cardinals also had 21 entering Saturday.
    Miller has struck out an amazing 50% of the hitters he has faced. Miller has not allowed an extra-base hit all season and has five of his 14 career four-out saves this year. He has a 0.78 ERA and a .136 opponent batting average in 34⅔ innings.
    The nine starters for each team were determined by two rounds of fan balloting, with Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement getting automatically selected to start by virtue of leading the first round in the NL and AL, respectively.
    The 23 reserves, which includes 12 pitchers as that position is not up for voting, are selected by player voting and the Commissioner's Office, which ensures that each team has a representative in the game.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    Following six straight losses, the San Diego Padres have lost two key players.
    Right-handed starter Randy Vasquez and catcher Freddy Fermin were placed on the 10-day injured list Friday by the Padres, who activated catcher Luis Campusano from the 10-day IL and called up right-hander Alek Jacob from Triple-A El Paso. Vasquez is on the IL with a bruised right ankle and Fermin with a head bruise. Campusano had been out since May 7 with a broken left big toe.
    Vasquez was injured in the first inning of Thursday's 12-7 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers when he took a Mookie Betts smash off his right ankle. As he was heading to get X-rays, he fainted and was taken to a hospital in L.A., then was released Friday morning. Right-hander German Marquez, who pitched three innings of relief Thursday, can step into Vasquez's starting role.
     
    Fermin took a foul ball from Freddie Freeman off his mask and, a few pitches later, was on the mound for a conference when he started to exhibit signs of an injury and was removed from the game. Fermin spent time this season already on the concussion list, but this has been classified as a head bruise.
    Campusano will easily fill Fermin's shoes as the lead catcher with Rodolfo Duran the No. 2. Campusano had a slash line of .288/.362/.596 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 18 games before he was hurt. He appeared in two rehab games, going 2-for-6 with a homer, before being needed by the Padres.
    Jacob joins a Padres bullpen that needs a fresh arm after having to cover six innings Thursday due to a short start by Vasquez. He is up for the third time this season, but has pitched in just two games, allowing two runs in two innings with two walks and three strikeouts. In 34 games at Triple-A El Paso, Jacob has a 3.71 ERA with 17 walks and 34 strikeouts in 34 innings.
     
     
    Steve Drumwright
    San Diego Padres right-handed starter Randy Vasquez was back at the team hotel in Los Angeles on Friday morning after fainting Thursday night.
    Vasquez was nailed on the right ankle by a comebacker off the bat of Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts in the first inning of a 12-7 loss. Vasquez not only stayed in the game and finished the inning, but he went two more innings before being removed. As a precaution, he was en route to getting an X-ray on the ankle when he fainted at Dodger Stadium, manager Craig Stammen said on MLB Network Radio. Vasquez was then taken to a hospital.
    "That's great news in what could have been a really scary situation and definitely caught everybody off-guard," Stammen said. "But glad Randy's doing well, and X-rays were negative and all the tests came back pretty clean."
    Due to the fainting spell, the X-rays were not taken. Testing will be done to determine Vasquez's injury status.
     
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The San Diego Padres have released one of their most productive minor-league hitters.
    Infielder Pablo Reyes was let go from Triple-A El Paso by the Padres, according to the transaction tracker on his MLB profile page. The move was dated Thursday, but posted Friday. No word on whether the 32-year-old had an out clause in his contract or the Padres felt they had too many bodies at Triple-A.
    Reyes had been a consistent offensive presence in the Chihuahuas' lineup, putting up a .310/.408/.491 slash line in 56 games with six homers, 33 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Reyes' batting average was second on the team and his 19 doubles were tops for the Chihuahuas, who recently got three players added to the roster in Luis Rengifo, Nick Solak and Will Wagner. Solak and Wagner were recently up with the Padres, while Rengifo was signed after being released by the Milwaukee Brewers.
    Reyes started the season off hot, reaching base in the first 30 games he played in. The Padres were Reyes' seventh organization and he appeared in the majors with four of those clubs.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The San Diego Padres will be without one of their leverage arms until at least after the All-Star break.
    The Padres on Thursday put right-handed setup man Jason Adam on the 15-day injured list with a strained right shoulder. Right-handed starter German Marquez, out for two months with right forearm irritation, was activated from the 15-day IL before Thursday's series opener against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.
    No specifics were given as to when Adam was injured, although he did pitch the eighth inning of Monday's 3-2 walk-off loss to the Chicago Cubs. Adam allowed a run on two hits with a strikeout. That was his third appearance in four days and fourth in six days as the Padres' bullpen has had to cover for a starting rotation that has lacked quality innings.
    Adam has generally been good this season, although a tad erratic at times. In 36 appearances and 32⅓ innings, with a career-best 6% walk rate and a career-worst 16.4% strikeout rate. Adam had a 25.9% strikeout rate last year before his season ended with a quadriceps injury and his career rate is 27.7%.
    Marquez, signed just as spring training began to fill out the back end of the rotation after a 10-year career with the Colorado Rockies, struggled through six starts, putting up a 6.65 FIP (5.76 ERA) with a 9.4% walk rate and 14.8% strikeout rate. The walk rate is worse than his career mark of 7.3%, while his strikeout numbers are on par for his last two seasons, but below his career rate of 21.6%.
    Marquez could be in a relief role as his last two appearances on his rehab assignment at Triple-A El Paso were out of the bullpen.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The San Diego Padres' top two prospects are heading to the Futures Game.
    Catcher Ethan Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, and left-handed starter Kash Mayfield, Padres Mission's No. 2 prospect, were named Wednesday to the showcase of MLB's top young minor-league players. Both players will represent the NL in the July 12 game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
    This is the second selection for the 20-year-old Salas, who also played in the 2024 Futures Game. Salas was just activated off the seven-day injured list by the Double-A San Antonio Missions following a minor oblique injury. The left-handed hitter has a .277/.347/.427 slash line with seven homers, 33 RBIs and 13 steals in 56 games this year. He missed all but 10 games of 2025 with a stress fracture in his lower back. Salas was the No. 1 international player in the 2023 signing period.
    Mayfield, the Padres' first-round draft choice in 2024 (25th overall pick), has been having a mostly banner season at High-A Fort Wayne. In 12 starts, Mayfield has a 3.22 ERA with a 10.9% walk rate and 30.3% strikeout rate in 44⅔ innings. He also has allowed a .192 opponent batting average. He began the season with three scoreless starts in which he allowed just one hit (coming in the third game) covering 12 innings, with five walks and 16 strikeouts. Mayfield had a mid-June start skipped to manage his workload.
    Salas will be one of 19 No. 1 prospects to represent their franchise at the Futures Game.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The time Ethan Salas spent on the injured list was indeed short.
    Salas, Padres Mission's No. 1 prospect, was activated from the seven-day injured list Tuesday by the Double-A San Antonio Missions. Salas was in the lineup at catcher and batting leadoff in the Missions' batting order.
    The 20-year-old top prospect for the San Diego Padres had been sidelined since sustaining a mild oblique injury during a June 17 doubleheader. He was placed on the IL the next day.
    Salas is having a really nice bounce-back season after missing all but 10 games last season due to a stress reaction in his lower back. The left-handed hitter is slashing .282/.352/.432 with seven homers and 33 RBIs in 56 games as well as 13 steals.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The San Diego Padres are getting a key bat back for the offense and an arm for the bullpen.
    Second baseman Jake Cronenworth was activated Monday off the seven-day concussion list by the Padres for the series opener against the Chicago Cubs. Also, right-handed reliever Bradgley Rodriguez was called up from Double-A San Antonio. Right-handed reliever David Morgan was placed on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his left knee and infielder Will Wagner was optioned back to Triple-A El Paso.
    Cronenworth has been on the concussion list since May 5, but the incident that led to his injury actually happened a couple weeks before that, but the symptoms did not initially present themselves, which affected his performance in that time. Cronenworth played in three rehab games at Triple-A over the weekend, including a full game on defense Sunday. While he went 3-for-12 at the plate, he did hit a home run in his first plate appearance Thursday. Cronenworth was slashing .144/.272/.196 with one homer and four RBIs in 32 games.
    Rodriguez was sent to the minors June 19 to simply give himself a breather during his first full MLB season. Rodriguez appeared in one game over the weekend at Double-A, throwing a perfect eighth inning Sunday with a strikeout.
    Morgan has pitched much better after being sent down in late April, spending more than a month at Triple-A. He returned at the beginning of June and has posted a 2.08 ERA over 8⅔ innings in seven games with two walks and 11 strikeouts. He had eight walks and 11 strikeouts in his first 8⅓ innings with a 9.72 ERA before his demotion.
    Wagner showed well in his brief time up this year. He came up June 9 and played in 16 games, producing a .257/.422/.286 with a double and no RBIs. He did draw 10 walks.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    After a poor experience with the Milwaukee Brewers, infielder Luis Rengifo is getting a chance with the San Diego Padres.
    Rengifo, a second baseman-third baseman, has signed a minor-league contract with the San Diego Padres, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported Friday. Rengifo was released by the Brewers after putting up a .205/.280/.254 slash line with no homers and 19 RBIs in 57 games while starting at third base.
    Rengifo will report to Triple-A El Paso.
    The Brewers signed Rengifo to a one-year, $3.5 million contract just before spring training following the trade of Caleb Durbin to the Boston Red Sox. The Brewers are on the hook for the remainder of the contract, except for the prorated minimum that the Padres will be paying Rengifo.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    The late start to the season for Lucas Giolito has been interrupted.
    The San Diego Padres on Tuesday placed the right-handed starter on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right elbow. Left-hander JP Sears was called up from Triple-A El Paso.
    Giolito, the last of MLB's top free agents to sign, signed a one-year, $3 million contract April 22, nearly a month after Opening Day, and spent another three-plus weeks getting his arm in game shape in the minors. But he has been inconsistent in his seven games, which included the last two with an opener to try and give him a path to success.
    But Giolito has produced a 6.07 FIP (5.16 ERA), with career worsts of a 16.7% walk rate and 13% strikeout rate. His last start came in Sunday's series finale against the Texas Rangers, a 4-3 loss, in which Giolito lasted just four innings, giving up all four runs on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
    Sears, the other piece the Padres got from the A's in the Mason Miller deal at last year's trade deadline, has been in the minors all season. In 14 starts, Sears has a 7.92 ERA with 28 walks and 62 strikeouts in 63⅔ innings.
     
    Steve Drumwright
    With the first half of the season complete, promotions at all levels were revealed before Tuesday's series openers of the full-season San Diego Padres affiliates. The biggest impact was felt at High-A Fort Wayne, where the TinCaps have eight new players, and Low-A Lake Elsinore, with six players joining the Storm.
    Among Padres Mission's Top 20 prospects, No. 5 Ryan Wideman, No. 14 Tucker Musgrove and No. 19 Bryan Balzer were the only ones to change levels, but not the only interesting names.
    Here is a recap of the movement (previous team in parentheses):
    Joining Triple-A El Paso:
    Right-hander Andrew Moore (San Antonio) First baseman Romeo Sanabria (San Antonio) Joining Double-A San Antonio:
    Right-hander Clay Edmondson (Fort Wayne) Right-hander Tucker Musgrove (Fort Wayne) Outfielder Jake Cunningham (Fort Wayne) Joining High-A Fort Wayne:
    Right-hander Bernard Jose (San Antonio) Right-hander Bryan Balzer (Lake Elsinore) Right-hander Winyer Chourio (Lake Elsinore) Right-hander Nick Falter (Lake Elsinore) Right-hander Will Koger (Lake Elsinore) First baseman Luke Cantwell (Lake Elsinore) Third baseman-first baseman Kerrington Cross (Lake Elsinore) Outfielder Ryan Wideman (Lake Elsinore) Joining Low-A Lake Elsinore:
    Shortstop Dylan Grego (San Antonio) Right-hander Isaiah Lowe (Fort Wayne) Right-hander Jeferson Vilabona (Fort Wayne) Right-hander Lan-Hong Su (ACL) Right-hander Jordan Valenzuela (ACL) Left-hander Zack Qin (ACL) Joining Arizona Complex League:
    Right-hander Luis German (Fort Wayne) Left-hander Joseph Herrera (Lake Elsinore) Outfielder Eddson Martinez (DSL)
    Steve Drumwright
    With the first half of the minor-league season officially in the books, it is promotion time.
    After news of right-handed reliever Tucker Musgrove, Padres Mission's No. 14 prospect, going up from High-A Fort Wayne to Double-A San Antonio broke Sunday, a few more moves became known Monday, with more on the way before the start of new series Tuesday.
    That begins with center fielder Ryan Wideman, the minors' stolen base leader. Padres Mission's No. 5 prospect, Wideman is going from Low-A Lake Elsinore to High-A Fort Wayne. Also, right-handed reliever Andrew Moore and first baseman Romeo Sanabria are going from Double-A San Antonio to Triple-A El Paso.
    Wideman, perhaps the most dynamic hitter in the system, is slashing .314/.389/.504 with six homers and 44 RBIs to go along with a minors-best 43 steals (13 times caught stealing) over 65 games.
    Moore is having a breakthrough season as a 26-year-old. He has a 1.85 ERA in 20 games and 24⅓ innings with 24 walks and 45 strikeouts.
    Sanabria was a candidate to start this year at El Paso, but was on San Antonio's Opening Day roster for the second season in a row. He has a .247/.345/.394 with eight homers and 36 RBIs in 66 games.
    As mentioned above, there will be more promotions (and probably cuts) before Tuesday's games begin.
     
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