The Padres may still have a path to a deadline that keeps them in the hunt, but the more realistic read is that they need to choose a direction and stick with it. If this turns into a sell-off, it can’t be the kind that only trims around the edges. San Diego would need to move real value and start thinking about future value instead.
That’s why a few names are already sitting in the spotlight.
Nick Pivetta is one of the trickier pieces to sort through. He was 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 16 innings in four starts before landing on the IL with a right elbow flexor strain, and the uncertainty around his return makes him a complicated trade case.
He’s also not a simple rental, thanks to backloaded money and player-option language that could make some teams hesitate. Still, a contender willing to take on some risk could see a fit, and the New York Mets, maybe even the Yankees or Astros, are the kind of clubs that could make sense.
If he’s healthy enough to deal, San Diego should at least see what a pitching-needy team is willing to pay for the strikeouts and postseason upside.
Adrián Morejón is a different kind of name, but he belongs on the board too. He’s been productive all season, going 6-2 with a 3.52 ERA, 54 strikeouts over 46 innings, 41 appearances and a save.
Left-handed relief is always in demand, and Morejón checks a lot of boxes for contenders trying to patch together high-leverage innings. The Padres shouldn’t be eager to move him, but if they’re serious about restocking the farm, this is the sort of arm other teams will want to talk about.
Jake Cronenworth is the least flashy name here, but he might matter just as much if the Padres are looking at a deeper reset. His numbers are rough - .168/.277/.235 with two home runs, seven RBI and a -0.5 WAR over 119 at-bats - though that line is also affected by his poor play before he hit the concussion IL.
If he can get going over the next couple of weeks, there could be teams interested in an upgrade at second base. The return probably wouldn’t be huge.
More likely, Cronenworth would be part of a move aimed at creating flexibility, whether that means a fringe major leaguer, a Quad-A type with some upside, or a blocked lower-level prospect years away. If the Padres eat some money, they might do a little better than that.
The point would be simple: loosen the roster, loosen the books, and open up room to build more cleanly.
Then there’s Mason Miller, the name that could bring back the biggest haul. He’s been electric, putting up a 2-1 record with a 0.98 ERA, 22 saves and 67 strikeouts over 36 2/3 innings.
That kind of late-inning dominance gets attention fast, especially with so many contenders chasing bullpen help. The Padres just acquired him, so moving him would not be easy to swallow.
But relievers can lose value in a hurry, and Miller is entering his second year of arbitration next season, which makes this a strong window to cash in if San Diego decides it’s time. If a contender wants to pay for ninth-inning dominance, the Padres need to be willing to listen.
That’s the real decision in front of them. A cosmetic deadline won’t do much good.
If they’re close enough to buy, fine. But if the standings and the roster are saying something else, the Padres have to stop treating this like a small adjustment waiting to happen.
In Other News...
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The Padres slide in the National League West has pushed them out of the wild-card picture, and now the front office is staring at a deadline that feels more complicated than it did a few weeks ago. Rather than locking into one lane, the club is reportedly weighing both buying and selling scenarios, a sign of just how much the standings have changed the conversation around this roster.
Walker Buehler sits at the center of that uncertainty, which is where the tension really starts to build for San Diego. His season has been uneven, and the questions around his value are now tangled up with what the Padres decide to do next, whether they try to keep chasing or turn the deadline into an opportunity to recoup something before the market moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Turn To Another Arm As Pitching Desperation Deepens
The Padres are reaching deeper into their pitching depth chart again, this time bringing Jhony Brito back into the mix as the club tries to navigate a staff hit hard by injuries. Brito has been working his way back from elbow surgery and has not appeared in the majors since 2024, but his recent rehab work has at least put him back on the radar as San Diego looks for any healthy arm it can trust.
Britos path back has been encouraging enough to earn him another look, with the right-hander performing well in rehab outings at Triple-A El Paso and Double-A San Antonio. For now, the bigger issue is simply getting him available, because the Padres injured list keeps growing and the need for pitching help keeps getting more urgent by the day. [Read more 🡒]