The San Diego Padres are heading toward the Aug. 3 trade deadline with more than one hole to patch, and the starting rotation sits near the top of the list. Injuries have thinned that group, and while a few arms are expected back in the coming weeks, the club can’t afford to simply assume help is on the way.
That’s where A.J. Preller enters the picture.
The Padres president of baseball operations has built a reputation for swinging big in trade season, and if he goes that route again, it could give San Diego a real boost for the stretch run. The problem is that the farm system doesn’t carry the same weight it once did, which makes any major deal harder to pull together.
Still, one potential target has started to stand out: Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene. Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden tied the Padres to Greene and labeled him the “best” trade target for San Diego.
“The Padres should probably be shopping both Mason Miller and Michael King to help rebuild the organization for the future,” Bowden said. “However, if they decide to buy, then I think their best trade target will be Greene. They need a long-term ace to lead their pitching staff and he can be just that.”
Whether Greene is actually available remains unclear, but he’s the kind of arm that could tempt Preller if the price is right. At 26, Greene would give San Diego a possible anchor not just for the rest of the season, but for years to come.
His contract runs through the 2029 season and includes a club option worth $21 million in the final year. That kind of control matters, especially for a pitcher with the ceiling Greene has shown.
The right-hander has put together back-to-back strong seasons. In 2024, he posted a 2.75 ERA across 26 starts, and last season he logged a 2.76 ERA in 19 starts while helping push the Reds into the playoffs.
There is, of course, some risk. Greene missed the first part of 2026 after surgery to remove chronic bone chips and loose bodies from his right elbow. Since returning, he has made three starts and owns a 6.06 ERA as he works his way back.
If San Diego clears the medical hurdle, Greene could fit as the front-line starter the club has been searching for. And even with the injury concern, his talent is enough to keep him firmly in the conversation.
A deal would not be easy to pull off, but with Preller running the show, the Padres can’t be ruled out of anything.
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