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    Trade and free agent rumors posted here.

    41 rumors in this category

      Steve Drumwright

       

      The competition for right-handed starter Lucas Giolito is heating up, which means there could be a decision soon on one of the top free agents from this past offseason.

      According to The Athletic on Tuesday, the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs are the top contenders to land the 2019 All-Star who has yet to find a home despite a moderately successful 2025, his first season back from Tommy John surgery. Giolito had a 4.17 FIP (3.41 ERA) in 26 starts for the Boston Red Sox last year.

      The Padres and Cubs are in need of fortifying their starting rotations.

      Padres Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta left Sunday's game with stiffness in his right elbow. More on his fate, which is likely to include a trip to the injured list, could be revealed Tuesday.

      The Cubs are in a more precarious situation. Right-hander Cade Horton, last year's NL Rookie of the Year runner-up, is likely to undergo season-ending surgery on his right UCL. Left-hander Matthew Boyd, the Cubs' Opening Day starter who is on the 15-day injured list with a strained left biceps, is slated to have one rehab appearance before rejoining the rotation next week.

      Giolito, who had three top-11 finishes in AL Cy Young Award voting (2019-2021) with the Chicago White Sox, is a Southern California native who has said he has been throwing bullpen sessions of 75 pitches to stay in shape and hasn't signed because no team has met his price.

       

      Steve Drumwright

      There is a new name in the bidding to purchase the San Diego Padres.

      Tom Gores, the owner of the NBA's Detroit Pistons and minority owner of the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers, is leading a previously unreported group to purchase San Diego's MLB team, according to a report by The Athletic. The same report confirmed the leaders of the other three groups that are among the four finalists and matched previous speculation: Jose E. Feliciano, Dan Friedkin and Joe Lacob.

      The Athletic also confirmed previous reports that the Padres, owned by the Seidler family, are likely to fetch at least $3.5 billion in the sale, which would be a MLB record. Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets in 2020 for $2.42 billion, the current record for an baseball team. The report said a second round of bidding was due in mid-April. It is expected a decision on who the Seidler family will sell to will be made following those bids.

      Feliciano is the co-founder of Clearlake Capital, based in Santa Monica, and has ownership of the men's soccer team Chelsea in the English Premier League; Friedkin was born in San Diego and is the CEO of The Friedkin Group as well as ownership in two men's soccer teams (Everton in the EPL and Roma in Serie A); while Lacob is owner of the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the WNBA's Golden State Valkyries.

      But Gores jumps into the fray with the second-largest net worth of the four. The founder of Platinum Equity, a private-equity firm headquartered in Beverly Hills, has a net worth of $10.1 billion, according to Forbes, behind Friedkin's $10.7 billion. Gores became the Pistons' owner in 2011 and self-funded a new $90 million headquarters and training center. Gores and Platinum Equity bought the Pistons for $395 million, with Gores buying out his firm's share four years later to have 100% ownership.

      Platinum Equity oversees more than $50 billion in assets from 60 companies.

      Gores also pursued bringing a Major League Soccer team to Detroit, but that effort failed, at least for the moment. He purchased a 27% stake in the Chargers in 2024.

      In 2009, Gores purchased the San Diego Union-Tribune for a reported $30 million, then sold it two years later for $110 million. Gores lives in Beverly Hills, which would be key as the Seidler family is seeking someone who is local to sell the team to. All four finalists have SoCal ties, with some currently stronger than others.

      Peter Seidler, who died in November 2024, and Ron Fowler led the group that purchased the Padres in 2012 for $800 million.

      Steve Drumwright

      If there is a singular strength of the San Diego Padres entering the 2026 season, it is most definitely the bullpen. There will be a few relievers who should be on the Friars' Opening Day roster who instead will be suiting up for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas.

      Or maybe another franchise altogether.

      That is one possibility, as reported by Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. The Padres, who had one of the best sets of relievers in MLB in 2025, are fielding calls on members of their bullpen, although there are no specifics at this point.

      With everyone either healthy or on pace to be healthy for Opening Day, relievers who could be on the outside looking in include Bryan Hoeing, Bradgley Rodriguez, Ron Marinaccio, Kyle Hart, Ty Adcock, and Alek Jacob. Hart is the only left-hander in that group. All are right-handers except for Hart, while Marinaccio and Adcock are out of minor-league options.

      Right-hander Jason Adam (ruptured quad) and left-hander Yuki Matsui (groin) are mending injuries, and their Opening Day status is up in the air at the moment.

      Where could the Padres be looking to upgrade? They could still be looking for starting depth, even after the in-camp additions of German Marquez, Walker Buehler, and Griffin Canning. A backup infielder capable of playing shortstop is also another area. Of course, prospects are also nice, especially for a farm system that has been depleted through trades.

      Matthew Lenz

      The San Diego Padres are looking to shore up their infield depth despite having multiple options currently on the 40-man roster. Especially on the right side, Jake Cronenworth and Gavin Sheets are expected to share some combination of time between first base and DH. Will Wagner and Sung Mun Song can both play second base (among other infield positions), while depth options include Luis Campusano and Mason McCoy.

      Despite those options, that's not stopping the Padres from looking at an upgrade for their bench. Chris Cotillo of MassLive is reporting that the San Diego Padres are part of a "robust market" who have shown interest in first baseman Ty France.

      France, who was drafted by the Padres in the 34th round of the 2015 draft, won the American League Gold Glove in 2025. However, he struggled at the plate in back -to-back season posting a sub-.700 OPS, hitting 20 home runs, and having a below-average wRC+ in both 2024 and 2025. The San Diego State product would serve as a right-handed option on the right side of the infield that has four left-handed options. 

      Do you think the Padres should sign him? Let us know in the comments!

      Steve Drumwright

      With the San Diego Padres still looking to bolster their starting rotation, the team has been connected with a pitcher they have seen a lot in recent years.

      That would be right-hander Zac Gallen, a free agent after pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2019. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Friars have "checked in" on Gallen. But Heyman also immediately threw water on the idea by grouping the Padres with the Los Angeles Angels and saying those two teams aren't "big spenders."

      Instead, Heyman points to a return to the Diamondbacks as a possibility due to Gallen having a qualifying offer, while the Chicago Cubs and Baltimore Orioles would be the other top contenders.

      Gallen had a bumpy 2025, with a 4.50 FIP and 4.83 ERA in 33 starts, although he was much better down the stretch, with a 3.32 ERA after Aug. 1.

      Steve Drumwright

      Before the Milwaukee Brewers shipped ace Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets, the San Diego Padres were in contention for the right-hander's services.

      This according to a report by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who said the Padres, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins were in the conversation late. But Rosenthal said the Brewers went with the Mets in part because New York had been the most persistent team.

      The question from the Padres' perspective is if they had the prospect capital to make a Peralta deal happen. The Brewers received two of the Mets' top-five prospects in infielder-outfielder Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat. While Williams likely needs a little more time in the minors, Sproat is expected to contend for a spot in the Crew's rotation this spring.

      The prospect closest to matching what the Brewers were seeking, MLB-ready talent, is right-handed starter Miguel Mendez, who ranks as the No. 8 prospect in the Friars' system by MLB Pipeline. But Mendez had only six games at the Double-A level in 2025 and probably has another year in the minors before truly being an MLB option.

      There are no position players that would have fit that mold, either, even when you consider the Padres' MLB roster.

      Steve Drumwright

      We all know the San Diego Padres are in need of another arm (or two) for the starting rotation, and with the way the free-agent market is moving, there are still plenty of fish in the sea.

      But according to a report Tuesday by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Friars president of baseball operations A.J. Preller is willing to do what he did last offseason — wait out the market and save some cash.

      Another key part of the report was Rosenthal mentioning that the Padres are one of the many teams to have checked in with the Milwaukee Brewers regarding a trade for ace right-hander Freddy Peralta, who is due to make an affordable $8 million before becoming a free agent after 2026.

      The strategy of waiting to improve the rotation worked very well a year ago as the Padres brought in right-hander Nick Pivetta on a backloaded four-year, $55 million contract with opt-outs after 2026 and 2027. Pivetta was paid just $2.5 million in 2025 and jumps to $20.5 million this year. Of course, Pivetta emerged with the best season of his nine-year career.

      Pivetta went 13-7 with a 3.49 FIP, 2.87 ERA, and 149 ERA+ in a career-high 181⅔ innings.

      Pivetta also remains a hot trade target, which would create an issue for the Padres unless an MLB-ready arm is part of the return. Pivetta is likely to be the Opening Day starter this year, with Michael King, Joe Musgrove, Randy Vasquez, and JP Sears likely filling out the rotation. Musgrove is coming back from Tommy John surgery.

      Matthew Lenz

       

      It's been fairly quiet for the San Diego Padres ever since they re-signed starting pitcher Michael King and signed infielder Sung Mun Song. However, the pilot light on the hot stove turned into a medium-low flame on Monday.

      Jon Heyman of the NY Post is reporting that the San Diego Padres are one of many teams interested in utility man Miguel Andujar.

      At 31 years old, Andujar is coming off his best season with a .822 OPS (125 wRC+) and 10 home runs. Though his quantity of contact is a plus, his quality of contact leaves more to be desired. While he finished in the upper 80th percentiles in whiff and strikeout rates, he finished in the teens when it came to barrel and hard hit rates. With the Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds, he played a little bit at each of the corner infield and corner outfield spots. While his versatility is a plus, he's not particularly strong defensively, as he accrued negative Outs Above Average at each position in 2025 (except first, where he only played 13 innings). Regardless, he would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Will Wagner, Bryce Johnson, and Mason McCoy. 

       

      Do you think the Padres should sign Andujar? Let us know in the comments.

      Steve Drumwright

      Were the San Diego Padres the runner-up in the sweepstakes to acquire Nolan Arenado?

      That is unknown, but the Friars were serious bidders to acquire the 10-time Gold Glove third baseman from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal. Arenado was traded on Tuesday to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a pitching prospect, right-hander Jack Martinez.

      But where the 34-year-old Arenado would have played would have been the interesting part. With Manny Machado entrenched at third base, the Padres would have wanted Arenado, a six-time Platinum Glove winner, to play first base. Currently, the Friars have a combination of Gavin Sheets and Jake Cronenworth at first base.

      Another impediment in the Padres' attempt to add Arenado was how much salary the Friars would take on. The Diamondbacks took on $31 million of the $42 million Arenado is owed on the final two years of his contract. Rosenthal reported that the Padres wanted to pay less than the $11 million the D'backs will pay Arenado.

      Southern California was a destination for Arenado, who was born in Newport Beach and went to high school at El Toro in Lake Forest.

      Matthew Lenz

      Despite re-signing Michael King, the San Diego Padres are still looking to fill the void left by Dylan Cease, who signed with the Toronto Blue Jays this offseason.

      Earlier in the offseason, it was rumored that general manager AJ  Preller was considering transitioning one of his relievers from the bullpen to the starting rotation. At the time, he had given himself about two weeks to make that decision and seemingly opted not to go that route. However, that doesn't mean Padres fans won't see changes in the bullpen before Opening Day.

      AJ Cassavell of MLB.com is reporting that the San Diego Padres are looking to add starting pitching and could deal a reliever to make that happen. The report doesn't indicate exactly which reliever(s) may be subject to trade talks, but Cassavell does mention that a high-leverage reliever, Mason Miller, is unlikely to be dealt.

      That said, he doesn't go too much further down the pecking order before bringing up names like Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, and David Morgan as potential candidates. He also mentions Jason Adam as an unlikely candidate to be traded. Recently, it was also suggested that the Padres may need to deal Nick Pivetta to make room for another start from a cost standpoint.

      Do you think the Padres should trade one of their high-end relievers for a starting pitcher? Let us know what you think of the comments.

      Brock Beauchamp

      According to Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the San Diego Padres would like to add another starting pitcher this offseason, though it comes with the caveat that the Padres may need to trade Nick Pivetta to clear salary space.

      Free-agent starters still on the board include Framber Valdez, Ranger Suárez, Zac Gallen, Nick Martinez, Chris Bassitt, Zack Littell, Patrick Corbin, Erick Fedde, Justin Verlander, Miles Mikolas, Nestor Cortes, Lucas Giolito, Jose Quintana, Aaron Civale, Marcus Stroman, Jordan Montgomery, John Means, Alex Cobb, and Walker Buehler.

      With the Padres still wrestling with budget concerns and expressing an interest in trading Pivetta, it will be difficult to find a net improvement in the rotation.

      Steve Drumwright

      With about a week left in the posting window for infielder Kazuma Okamoto, the San Diego Padres have emerged as a contender for the 29-year-old from Japan.

      While it isn't known how many teams are involved in the process at this point, the report from Francys Romero also included the Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates. His posting window closes Jan. 4.

      Okamoto, primarily a third baseman who also has experience at first base and the outfield, is coming off a 2025 season in which he put up an impressive .327/.416/.598 slash line with 15 homers, albeit in just 69 games for the NPB's Yomiuri Giants.

      As third base is currently held down by superstar Manny Machado, Okamoto's path to playing time is likely at first or the outfield, although there are contenders at those spots, too.

      Brock Beauchamp

      According to Francys Romero, one of the Padres' trade interests is embattled White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr.

      Robert Jr., 28, is under team control for potentially two more seasons; Chicago holds $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027 with a $2 million buyout. In 2024, Robert appeared in 100 games and logged 425 plate appearances, hitting 14 homers and stealing 23 bases. He produced a .224/.278/.379 line with a .285 wOBA and 84 wRC+, plus a 6.6% BB% and 33.2% K%, finishing at 0.6 fWAR. In 2025, he played 110 games (431 plate appearances) and again hit 14 homers, while stealing 33 bases. He posted a .223/.297/.364 line with a .289 wOBA and 84 wRC+, paired with a 9.3% BB% and 26.0% K%. His 2025 total was 1.3 fWAR.

      Brock Beauchamp

      AJ Preller is a box of chocolates... or something. Just days ago, news out of the Padres' front office was that they weren't interested in dealing high-end relievers. Now, according to Underdog MLB, the Padres are listening on not only their best reliever, but their best starting pitcher.

      Mason Miller, 27, is arbitration-eligible beginning in 2026 and is scheduled to reach free agency in 2030. In 2025, he made 60 relief appearances split between Oakland and San Diego, working 61 2/3 innings and recording 22 saves. He struck out 44.4% of hitters with a 12.0% walk rate, and he posted a 2.23 FIP with a 0.73 HR/9. His BABIP was .240, and his strand rate was 76.0%. He finished with 2.0 fWAR, a 2.63 ERA, and a 2.27 xFIP.

      Nick Pivetta, 32, is signed through 2028 on a four-year, $55 million contract covering the 2025-28 seasons. In 2025, he started 31 games for San Diego and threw 181 2/3 innings. He recorded a 26.4% strikeout rate and a 6.9% walk rate, and his season FIP was 3.49 with a 3.85 xFIP. Pivetta's HR/FB rate was 9.7%, while his K-BB% was 19.5%.  

       

      Brock Beauchamp

      Writing for the San Diego Union-Tribune, Kevin Acee reports that Padres' president of baseball operations, AJ Preller, isn't looking to trade some of the team's high-end relief pitching to fill other holes on the 2026 roster.

      The 2026 Padres bullpen currently projects to look similar to 2025, minus closer Robert Suarez. Adrian Morejon threw 73 2/3 innings in relief with a 24.5 percent K%, 5.9 percent BB%, and 2.28 FIP. Robert Suarez logged 69 2/3 innings, posting a 27.9 percent K%, 5.9 percent BB%, and 2.88 FIP. Mason Miller added 23 1/3 innings with a 54.2 percent K%, 12.0 percent BB%, and 1.12 FIP. Jeremiah Estrada and Wandy Peralta combined for 143 1/3 innings with K% marks of 35.5 and 19.7 percent, respectively. Overall, Padres relievers produced a 25.8 percent K%, 9.6 percent BB%, 3.53 FIP, and 7.6 WAR over 609 innings in 2025.

      The 2025 Padres offense finished with a team line of .252/.321/.390 and a 102 wRC+ over 6,087 plate appearances, close to league average, but designated hitters combined for a .207/.273/.300 slash and 66 wRC+, placing San Diego among the weakest DH groups. Left field was approximately replacement level as well. Depth in the infield bench also lagged, with Jose Iglesias (.229/.298/.294, 73 wRC+) and Tyler Wade (.206/.309/.252, 69 wRC+) both below league-average production. For 2026, lineup questions center on upgrading the DH and left field, and on finding more offense from the catcher and reserve infield roles.

      Brock Beauchamp

      Life is never boring with AJ Preller as your favorite team's president of baseball operations. MLB Network recently reported that Preller is once again going big-game hunting, though it's questionable how much ammunition he has to bring along this time around.

      Reports out of Nashville suggest the Padres are at least listening on veterans like Nick Pivetta while gauging interest in other pricey pieces, even if a major teardown remains unlikely. With payroll tight and the farm thinned out, any blockbuster would likely involve some creative thinking. 

      A decade into his tenure, Preller’s résumé is defined by blockbuster trades. The most famous is the 2022 deadline blockbuster for Juan Soto and Josh Bell, a move that cost a haul of prospects but helped power San Diego’s run to the NLCS. He doubled down on pitching by landing Blake Snell from Tampa Bay, Yu Darvish from the Cubs, and Joe Musgrove from the Pirates in a rapid-fire series of deals that signaled an all-in push around Manny Machado. Preller has also aggressively overhauled the bullpen, sending prospects to Milwaukee for Josh Hader. This past deadline, he once again emptied the farm to bring in flamethrower reliever Mason Miller.

      Matthew Lenz

      The San Diego Padres need to rebuild their rotation for 2026. Though they have qualifying offers out to Michael King and Dylan Cease, it's expected that both pitchers will decline the one-year, $22 million pact. Though that doesn't completely write off the potential for a reunion, Padres president of baseball operations and general manager AJ Preller identified the starting rotation as a "top need."

      In a column for MLB.com, AJ Cassavell suggests the Friars could turn to their bullpen to bolster their rotation, specifically naming Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon as candidates to move. The decision on whether to move either arm into the rotation could happen soon, as Preller was quoted as saying, "if there’s a role change for anybody, that’s something that’s going to be important for us over the next 10-15 days..."

      Miller, acquired from the Athletics midseason, finished the season with a 2.63 ERA (2.23 FIP), 32.5% K-BB rate, and 32 holds + saves. Though he was one of baseball's premier closers before being dealt, he was mostly utilized as a setup man to Robert Suarez. Miller earned an extra year of arbitration for being eligible for super-2 status.

      Morejon, entering his fourth final year of arbitration, pitched 73 2/3 innings for the Friars in 2025. He posted a 2.08 ERA (2.28 FIP) with an 18.6% K-BB rate. With an fWAR of 2,2, he was the best bullpen arm for the team. 

      Do you think either pitcher should convert to a starter? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      The San Diego Padres have had a busy start to the postseason, announcing a variety of moves that will have implications on how they approach the 2025- 2026 MLB off-season. Additionally, they are just days removed from naming Craig Stammen as the team's next manager. Now, they are looking to lock up one of the more influential people in their front office.

      Dennis Lin of The Athletic is reporting that the San Diego Padres and President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller are discussing a contract extension. He adds that a new multi-year extension could be completed as soon as Monday.

      Despite reported tension between Preller and team CEO Erik Greupner, the POBO has undoubtedly earned job security, as the Friars have been consistently competitive throughout his 11-plus-year tenure.

      Under his watch, the Padres have been able to land some of the biggest free agents on the market. Franchise cornerstone Manny Machado is the biggest, and Yu Darvish is another. Moreover, they've been aggressive in the trade market, acquiring superstar, Juan Soto, and starting pitchers, Michael King and Dylan Cease, in recent years. This has resulted in increased revenue from attendance and TV ratings for the organization.

      Do you think Preller has earned a contract extension? Let us know in the comments!

      Matthew Lenz

      After letting go of Mike Shildt less than a month ago, the San Diego Padres have reportedly narrowed their managerial search to a group of finalists.

      Though it's not known how many finalists remain, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the team has completed a second interview with Albert Pujols. In addition to Pujols, they've previously interviewed Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, as well as internal candidates Brian Esposito (bench coach) and Ruben Niebla (pitching coach). If this is, in fact, the group of finalists, it's worth noting that none of the candidates have prior managerial experience.

      Pujols was a candidate for the Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles, though he was ultimately not hired on as a manager for either team. On the other hand, Flaherty remains a finalist for the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves' open managerial positions.

      Who do you think the Padres should hire as the club's next manager?

      Brock Beauchamp

      Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote today (in the wake of the blockbuster Mason Miller trade) that the Padres plan to keep Robert Suarez at the trade deadline. Internal discussions currently favor holding the right-hander, even as president of baseball operations AJ Preller continues fielding calls on other roster pieces. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale likewise notes that there are “no current plans” to trade Suarez, though conversations could persist up to the deadline. 

      Suarez is earning $10 million this season and holds player options valued at $8 million apiece for 2026 and 2027. If he remains healthy in 2025, it is likely Suarez declines the option and becomes a free agent after the season.

      On the field, Suarez has converted 30 of 33 save chances while working 44 2⁄3 innings across 47 appearances. His 26.6 percent strikeout rate and 6.9 percent walk rate closely track his 2024 marks, and a 2.34 FIP (per MLB.com’s All-Star announcement) sits more than a full run below his 3.43 ERA, indicating run prevention largely supported by underlying indicators. 

      Excluding the addition of Miller, the Padres’ choice to retain Suarez would keep a bullpen trio of Suarez, Miller, and setup man Jason Adam intact for the stretch run while deferring any decision on the closer’s future until he decides on his option after the season.

      Brock Beauchamp

      Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic have reported that the Padres are kicking the tires on Athletics' closer Mason Miller. They're also still pursuing Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, but we've covered that elsewhere.

      The 26-year-old right-handed Miller owns the game’s top average four-seam velocity at 101.2 mph and has converted 20 saves in 38 outings. Through July 30, he has worked 38 1/3 innings with a 3.76 ERA, a 2.86 FIP, and a 39.1 percent strikeout rate, while holding opponents to a .246 batting average on balls in play. Miller still earns the league minimum $765,000 and is under club control through 2029, an attractive fit for a Padres payroll that has little wiggle room.

      Oakland’s price is correspondingly high. Sources say the president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, is willing to discuss either of his premier prospects—shortstop Leo De Vries or catcher Ethan Salas—to obtain Miller or controllable outfielders Jarren Duran and Steven Kwan. De Vries, 19, is thriving at High-A and is the Padres' top prospect, while Salas remains sidelined by a lower-back stress reaction but is still a teenager.

      Despite having one of the better bullpens in baseball, San Diego is weighing changes. Closer Robert Suarez carries a 3.50 ERA and a 3.28 FIP over 43 2/3 innings, but he can opt out of the two years and $20 million left on his deal after the season, making him a potential trade chip. Miller started six games as a rookie in 2023; the Padres have recently transitioned former relievers Michael King, Seth Lugo, and Stephen Kolek into starting roles, so that background could add further appeal if a deal is reached.

      Brock Beauchamp

      Katie Woo of The Athletic is reporting that the Padres are interested in acquiring the Cardinals' JoJo Romero.

      The Padres continue to inquire on the relief market despite already leading baseball with a 2.99 bullpen ERA and sending three relievers to the All-Star Game. General manager A.J. Preller has signaled interest in adding a second high-leverage left-hander to lessen the workload on Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada, both of whom rank among the league leaders in appearances.

      St. Louis southpaw JoJo Romero fits that description and remains under club control through the 2027 season. Across 34 innings in 2025, Romero owns a 2.12 ERA with a 2.88 FIP, 9.0 K/9, 4.0 BB/9, and just 0.3 HR/9. He has converted 52.9 percent of batted balls into grounders and stranded 76.4 percent of his baserunners. Statcast reports opponents have managed a .267 wOBA (.270 xwOBA) against him, with an average exit velocity of 89.1 mph and a 38.9 percent hard-hit rate.

      Because Romero is left-handed and can be optioned, the Padres could deploy him flexibly while maintaining roster depth. His combination of swing-and-miss capability (34 strikeouts) and home-run suppression falls in line with San Diego’s preference for power arms who limit damage late in games. With Emmanuel Clase now unavailable and Ryan Helsley’s market escalating, Romero represents a controllable alternative whose cost in prospect capital may align with Preller’s stated goal of “adding to a strength” without altering the club’s long-term pitching plans.

      Brock Beauchamp

      Ken Rosenthal and Chandler Rome of The Athletic are reporting the Astros are pursuing a trade for Padres starter Dylan Cease.  Sources briefed on Houston’s discussions say Dylan Cease tops the club’s trade deadline wish list, and the Padres right-hander fits the power-arm profile owner Jim Crane has targeted in past July moves.

      Cease, 29, has logged 118 1⁄3 innings over 22 starts with a 4.79 ERA and 153 strikeouts, good for 11.64 K/9. Under the hood, his 3.53 FIP, 3.64 xFIP, and 97.1 mph average fastball velocity sit near the league’s leaders, and a .320 wOBA against versus a .304 xwOBA points to run-prevention upside.

      Astros scouts watched Cease on July 23 in Miami, where he yielded two earned runs in five innings and punched out five; the outing kept his expected ERA at 3.53. Cease is earning $13.75 million in his walk year and will reach free agency this winter.

      Houston has a major-league-high 17 players on the injured list, among them starters Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, and Lance McCullers Jr., plus sluggers Yordan Alvarez, Jeremy Peña, and Isaac Paredes. Healthy arms Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez need reinforcement, and Cease would form a high-strikeout trio.

      Acquiring the remaining salary would push Houston over the competitive-balance tax; Crane crossed that threshold for Justin Verlander in 2023, so cost alone may not deter him. Houston is also surveying the market for a bat, with Willi Castro, Jesús Sánchez, and Jake McCarthy mentioned as possibilities.

      Brock Beauchamp

      Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently wrote that the Padres are interested in trading for Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, 27, who is earning $4.175 million in 2025 and will remain arbitration-eligible through 2027. In 99 games, he is hitting .285/.350/.411 with a .333 wOBA and 115 wRC+. FanGraphs has him at 2.8 fWAR, a top-20 mark among outfielders this season. Statcast lists Kwan at +3 Outs Above Average while he has logged 772 ⅓ innings, almost all in left field. 

      The Padres have not found a consistent solution in left field since Jurickson Profar departed; FanGraphs’ preseason ZiPS write-up flagged the position as “likely to be a problem again” in 2025, and that has undoubtedly been the case. Adding Kwan would give San Diego an outfielder under control for two additional seasons, avoiding the rental profile common at the deadline. Because his 2025 salary is modest, his projected arbitration raises are unlikely to strain the club’s precarious financial position. With Kwan under control through 2027, any deal would address a present-day lineup need while providing payroll stability.

      The Guardians are reportedly seeking a robust package; Kwan’s 2.8 fWAR and two additional seasons of control elevate the asking price beyond typical corner-outfield rentals.

      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!

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