The Padres’ latest move to reshape their pitching staff came with a tough roster decision attached.
After landing left-hander Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants, San Diego needed room on the active roster. That meant German Marquez was designated for assignment on Wednesday, cutting ties with a pitcher who had been part of the rotation picture after a long run with the Colorado Rockies.
Marquez appeared in 13 games for the Padres, making 10 starts, after spending the first 11 seasons of his career in Colorado. The hope, at least in theory, was that a change of scenery might help him away from Coors Field. Instead, the results never really turned the corner.
In 53 innings with San Diego, Marquez gave up 55 hits and finished with a 5.26 ERA and 1.491 WHIP.
The Padres also brought in right-hander Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers, though his first outing was a rough one. In yesterday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he was tagged for eight earned runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings.
Ray and Mize are expected to matter if San Diego reaches the postseason rotation picture it’s building toward.
Marquez’s career has included some real highlights, even if he was never the true ace in Colorado. He earned his only All-Star selection in 2021, and before the National League added the designated hitter, he also picked up a Silver Slugger Award in 2018.
That year, he did something unusual for a pitcher: in 65 plate appearances, he hit .300 with a homer and five RBIs.
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Jake Cronenworth and Xander Bogaerts both acknowledged the message Los Angeles sent, but the Padres are not framing this as a time for scoreboard watching. Their focus stays on getting themselves into the postseason first, then sorting out whatever comes next. For a club still in the thick of the wild-card chase, the challenge now is matching the urgency around them without losing sight of the path they control. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Roster Crunch Could Force Another Tough Pitching Decision
The Padres pitching carousel took another turn this week when Toronto claimed right-hander Matt Waldron off waivers, a move that thins out San Diegos depth just a bit more. Waldron had already been designated for assignment, and the Blue Jays had room to add him after transferring left-hander Patrick Corbin to the 60-day injured list. It ends a run that began with Waldrons MLB debut in San Diego in 2023 and stretched across parts of four seasons with the club.
For the Padres, the larger issue is less about Waldron himself than what his departure says about a roster that keeps getting squeezed. Pitching depth is never far from the conversation in San Diego, and every change on the 40-man can ripple into the next one. With another arm needing space soon, the front office may be forced into another difficult call to keep the bullpen and rotation aligned with the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Preller Just Reignited The Padres Debate Fans Know Too Well
A.J. Preller spent the 2026 trade deadline doing what he has long been willing to do in San Diego: push chips toward the present and worry about the bill later. The Padres added Robbie Ray and Casey Mize while parting with top prospect Kash Mayfield, another reminder that Prellers approach is built around keeping the major league roster in the hunt now, even if it means moving some of the organizations most prized young talent.
For Padres fans, it is a familiar argument that never seems to leave the conversation for long. Preller has made it clear he is committed to building a club that can win championships, and that conviction is part of what has kept the team aggressive under his watch, but every deal like this revives the same question about how much long-term upside San Diego is willing to sacrifice along the way. [Read more 🡒]