The Padres may still be sorting out whether they’re going to buy or sell before the trade deadline, but Adrian Morejon already looks like the kind of arm that could be on the move.
San Diego’s All-Star left-hander has become one of the most intriguing names on the market because of the timing. His contract runs out after this season, and Dennis Lin of The Athletic wrote that the Padres may have a hard time keeping him in the long run.
“Whether A.J. Preller buys or sells, Morejon will become a coveted free agent this winter; the Padres must consider extracting value while they still can,” Lin wrote.
Lin also pegged Morejon as the player most likely to be in a different uniform by Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. PT, calling him “a younger, more potent version of $72 million reliever Tanner Scott” and noting that “He might end up as the best bullpen arm moved at the trade deadline (if Mason Miller stays put).”
That kind of profile makes him a major target for contenders, even as a rental. Morejon is making $3.9 million in 2026, and his value could be enormous for a club chasing a title run.
The Padres would prefer to keep him around for the stretch drive, but there’s a real path where they use him to address another need, including the starting rotation, while still feeling good about the bullpen they’d leave behind.
And the timing matters. San Diego is sitting at 53-53, two games behind the final National League wild-card spot, with six games coming up against the Rockies and Giants - two of the weakest teams in baseball.
Around the league, the expectation is that Morejon could be the top reliever moved before the deadline. Lin reported that several team and league sources believe A.J. Preller will eventually have to trade him, whether that means getting immediate help or prospects that could later be flipped for major league pieces.
“Given his proximity to free agency and the Padres’ need for starting pitching, several team and league sources believe Preller ultimately will be compelled to trade Morejon - perhaps for immediate help at other positions, or prospects who could be flipped for major leaguers,” Lin wrote.
“Some of the same sources believe Preller would prefer to exhaust other paths before seriously considering a deal.”
Morejon has spent his entire eight-year big league career with San Diego, and 2025 brought his first All-Star nod. He’s backed that up with another strong season in 2026, posting a 3.20 ERA with 63 strikeouts and an 8-2 record in 49 appearances.
The numbers have been even sharper lately. Since May 10, he has worked 35.2 innings with a 1.77 ERA, a stretch that has only made him more appealing to teams looking for a shutdown lefty.
If he does get dealt, plenty of contenders would line up for him, and some could even view him as a possible closer. The Yankees have already been mentioned as a possible destination if San Diego decides to make the move.
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