The San Diego Padres kept pushing right up to the 3 p.m. PT trade deadline, and their last-minute work brought in another arm for a rotation that needed help.
San Diego landed right-hander Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers, with infielder Gage Workman also coming back in the deal, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. To get the package done, the Padres sent top prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf to Detroit.
Mayfield, who ranked as the Padres’ No. 2 prospect, was a real piece of value for San Diego. The club believed in his upside, but the chance to add Mize to the mix proved too good to turn down. Mayfield had a 3.54 ERA in 15 starts at High-A this season.
Mize now joins left-hander Robbie Ray as the Padres’ major deadline additions on the pitching side. The 2025 All-Star has been strong for Detroit, putting up a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts, and he has been even sharper lately with a 2.91 ERA over four starts in July.
That kind of production gives San Diego another starter who can handle real innings, and that was the need A.J. Preller targeted. The Padres president of baseball operations has long been aggressive at the deadline, and once again he found a way to address the biggest issue on the roster.
Both Mize and Ray are set to become free agents after the season, though the Padres could explore an extension if the fit works out.
The timing matters, too. San Diego has won eight of its last nine games and has climbed back into the race, sitting one game behind the final wild-card spot. With the deadline now behind them, the Padres have strengthened a staff that could get even deeper soon, with Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta expected back in the coming weeks if everything stays on track.
For a team that has not had the smoothest 2026 season, the message from this deadline is clear: the Padres are trying to finish strong, and they’ve added the pitching depth to make that push real.
In Other News...
Tarik Skubals Dodgers Debut Has Tigers Fans Asking One Big Question
Tarik Skubals first turn for the Dodgers on Tuesday night offered a quick snapshot of what Los Angeles was getting and why Detroit chose to move him when it did. The left-hander worked six innings, gave up two runs and struck out six, showing the kind of steadiness that made him one of the most valuable arms on the market and a tough call for the Tigers to part with.
For Detroit fans, the return is now the part worth watching. The Tigers brought back three prospects in the deal, a haul built more for the long view than immediate help, and Skubals short stay in Los Angeles only sharpens the question of what the Tigers gave up by moving him before the season reached its finish line. [Read more 🡒]
Jackson Jobe Gives Tigers A Huge Boost With One Big Catch
Jackson Jobe is back on the Detroit Tigers major league roster at a time when every healthy arm matters, and his return carries both immediate weight and long-term significance. After a long recovery and rehab process, the young right-hander has rejoined the club as it continues to chase a postseason spot, giving the Tigers another option in a rotation that has had to balance urgency with caution.
The next step comes in a nationally televised matchup against the San Francisco Giants, where the plan is to ease Jobe back into the mix rather than ask for too much too soon. Detroit will keep a close eye on his workload, with the club still trying to protect its investment while also leaning on him for help right now. It is a tricky line to walk, but one the Tigers clearly believe is worth it. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Suddenly Need Two New Rotation Answers In The Playoff Chase
The Tigers are making an important late-season adjustment to their pitching staff, and it comes at a moment when every rotation inning matters. Manager A.J. Hinch told reporters that Drew Anderson is being moved from long relief into a starting role, part of a broader effort to stabilize a group that has suddenly had to absorb major changes while staying in the playoff chase.
Jackson Jobe is also set to join the mix during the upcoming series in San Francisco, giving Detroit another arm to work with as it tries to reshape the rotation on the fly. The timing underscores how quickly the Tigers have had to pivot, and how much hinges on whether these reinforcements can settle in fast enough to cover for the losses ahead. [Read more 🡒]