The Padres have a catcher logjam that other teams are already trying to crack, and A.J. Preller may have more leverage than usual because of it.
According to MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell, San Diego is drawing trade interest in Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano coming out of the GM Meetings. That kind of call makes sense for Preller to entertain, especially with Michael King and Nick Pivetta both headed for free agency and several rotation spots still open. Preller even joked that guessing three or four starters was low, which leaves him in position to be selective instead of desperate.
Ethan Salas is a big reason that flexibility exists. His September debut gave the Padres some breathing room, and it changed the conversation around the group behind the plate.
The 20-year-old hit .256 with a .737 OPS in 16 regular-season games and then caught three more in the postseason. He’ll be in the mix for more chances heading into 2027, and that trust lets San Diego at least listen when teams ask about one of the other catchers.
There’s also a practical path to keeping all three in the fold. Craig Stammen managed to make three catchers work late last year, using pinch-hitting options and keeping a reserve behind the plate. He could also slide Campusano or Salas into the DH spot, and Salas gives the club a left-handed option in that mix.
The two veterans would not be viewed the same way. Campusano hit .265 with a .795 OPS in 2026, while Fermin finished at .589.
Even so, Fermin’s value is tied to his glove, and he was a Gold Glove finalist. That kind of defense matters for a team breaking in a young catcher and possibly turning over most of its rotation.
Both players also come with multiple years of club control, which helps explain why other teams are calling and why Preller can afford to wait.
If San Diego does move one of them, the return should be meaningful. A dependable No. 4 starter would fit the bill.
The Padres have enough rotation holes to fill without using one of their better trade chips on a pitcher who would need to be stretched out in spring training and then prove he can hold up. Ideally, the move would knock one more task off Preller’s offseason list.
Fermin might be the easier name to move for that kind of arm. Campusano’s bat gives Stammen more ways to keep both him and Salas involved, even as Salas starts taking more innings behind the plate.
If a team values Fermin’s defense, that could be enough to get a deal done. If a club wants Campusano instead, it should have to put a better starter on the table.
And if the best offer is only a back-end lottery ticket, the Padres can simply head to spring training with all three catchers still on hand. The teams calling are trying to solve a problem behind the plate. San Diego can wait until one of them is willing to solve a problem for the Padres, too.
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