The Padres’ offseason starts with one obvious problem: the rotation is wide open, and A.J. Preller has to fix it fast.
After San Diego’s NLDS loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in four games, the front office is staring at another winter of major decisions. The Padres finished with more than 90 wins again and still didn’t get the postseason run they wanted, which means the reset button is getting pressed once more.
The biggest issue is pitching depth. Michael King can opt out of his deal, Nick Pivetta has a club option for 2027, and trade deadline additions Casey Mize and Robbie Ray are both headed for free agency along with Walker Buehler. Even with King and Pivetta potentially back in the fold, San Diego would still be looking at at least two open spots in the rotation for 2027.
That kind of uncertainty is why Bleacher Report pegged a starting pitcher as the Padres’ most likely trade move of the offseason. Its specific name to watch is Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen, described in the report as the “prime target”.
Rasmussen checks just about every box San Diego is missing. He has been one of baseball’s best pitchers since the turn of the decade, and he is under club control for one more season before free agency, assuming the Rays exercise his $20 million option for 2027.
The numbers from 2026 back up the appeal. Rasmussen, now 31, made his second straight All-Star team and turned in his best season yet, finishing with a 2.67 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP over 172 innings. He also struck out 174 batters and walked only 32, good for the top strikeout-to-walk ratio in the American League at 5.44.
What makes him even more attractive is how he has looked in October. In three postseason starts this year, Rasmussen has given up just three runs while punching out 23 hitters across 21 innings.
Of course, getting him would not be cheap. His value is climbing with every outing, and even with only one more season on the books, Tampa Bay would still be in position to ask for a substantial return.
San Diego does have other paths it can take through free agency or the trade market, but Rasmussen is the kind of arm that changes the conversation. And if anyone is going to pay the price, Preller has already shown he’s willing to put elite prospects into the deal to land a star.
In Other News...
Former Padres Rotation Question Could Be Back On The Market Soon
The Cardinals are heading into an offseason where activity feels likely, and that matters well beyond St. Louis. Under president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom, the club is expected to keep working both the free-agent and trade markets as it continues its rebuilding process, which has already turned attention toward a handful of names who could help reshape the roster. Among the players discussed are pitchers and position players with varying levels of upside, including one former Padres rotation question who could soon be available again.
For Padres fans, the interest is less about the Cardinals themselves and more about the ripple effect. A player San Diego once had to evaluate for its rotation is part of a broader group of six potential additions being weighed in St. Louis, a sign that the winter market could open up familiar faces and fresh possibilities alike. If the Cardinals do get aggressive, the next few months may create another chance for clubs around the league to revisit names that once sat much closer to home. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Suddenly Have A Rare Bullpen Option Worth Watching
As the Padres sort through a pitching staff that could look different in short order, one interesting name has surfaced in the background: Kona Takahashi. The 29-year-old right-hander from Japan is a free agent, and his profile fits a club that may need arms who can cover multiple innings while the front office weighs who is staying, who is leaving and who needs medical review.
Takahashi is not officially tied to San Diego, but he stands out for a couple of reasons the Padres would care about. He brings a starter-style workload into a bullpen conversation, and because there is no posting fee attached, he represents the kind of lower-friction pitching option teams sometimes circle when they expect turnover and need flexibility more than flash. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Enter A Pivotal Offseason With Pressure To Strike Fast
The Padres are heading into a winter that could shape the next several seasons, and the calendar is adding its own pressure. With the possibility of an MLB lockout hanging over the offseason, president of baseball operations AJ Preller is already weighing strategy and market opportunities while the club prepares for a roster that needs real work, especially on the pitching side.
New ownership has made clear it wants to win, and that expectation matters here because San Diego is likely to be more proactive in free agency than it has been at times in the past. A massive payroll spike like the franchise has seen before may not be in the cards, but the Padres still have enough moving parts and enough free agents to consider that this winter could become a defining one if Preller moves quickly. [Read more 🡒]