Padres, Orioles Could Be Natural Trade Partners as Spring Nears
With Spring Training fast approaching, the San Diego Padres still have some work to do. Their roster, as it stands, has a few noticeable gaps - especially when it comes to balancing the lineup and solidifying the rotation. And if there’s a team that lines up well as a trade partner to help them patch those holes, it might just be the Baltimore Orioles.
Let’s break down why this potential trade scenario makes sense for both clubs - and how it could address some of the Padres’ most pressing needs.
First Base, DH, and the Sheets Conundrum
The Padres recently avoided arbitration with Gavin Sheets, locking him in on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. Sheets can handle first base, but if he’s penciled in as the everyday starter there, it creates a ripple effect - namely, a void at designated hitter. And that’s a problem for a team that struggled to generate consistent offense from the right side in the 2025 postseason.
The Padres need a right-handed bat to either platoon with Sheets or rotate through DH. Right now, that bat isn’t on the roster.
Rotation Depth vs. Payroll Flexibility
On the pitching side, San Diego has invested heavily. Michael King re-upped in December on a three-year, $75 million deal.
Joe Musgrove is working his way back from the elbow injury he suffered in the 2024 NL Wild Card round. And Nick Pivetta, who’s currently slotted at the top of the rotation, is carrying a hefty salary - $20.5 million in 2026, before it drops to $18 million the following year.
That’s a lot of money tied up in arms. Between King’s escalating salary (set to jump from $9 million this year to $32 million in 2027), Musgrove’s $20 million annual hit, and Pivetta’s contract, the Padres are in a financial squeeze. If they want to add elsewhere, someone’s got to move.
Pivetta’s name has floated around in trade rumors this winter, and for good reason. He’s a veteran with top-of-the-rotation experience, and moving him could free up space to address other needs.
The challenge? Finding a team that both needs a frontline starter and has the right pieces to send back.
Enter Baltimore.
Why the Orioles Fit
The Orioles have built a solid rotation and a promising bullpen, but they’re still missing that true ace presence. That’s where Pivetta could come in. Pair him with a bullpen arm like Jeremiah Estrada or Wandy Peralta, and you’ve got a package that could appeal to Baltimore - especially if they’re looking to make a serious run in 2026.
In return, the Padres could target two specific names: starter Kyle Bradish and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle.
Bradish: A Solid Mid-Rotation Add
Bradish, entering his age-29 season, missed most of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. But when he returned in August, he looked sharp - posting a 2.53 ERA over 32 innings. He’s projected to earn $3.2 million this season in his second year of arbitration, making him a cost-effective option for a Padres team trying to manage payroll.
On the mound, Bradish brings a four-pitch mix, including a mid-90s sinker and four-seamer, as well as a slider and curveball. His sinker is his go-to pitch, with over 11 inches of arm-side movement - the kind of action that keeps hitters off balance.
But it’s his slider that really stands out. Last season, it generated a 44.4% whiff rate - a true out pitch.
Fangraphs projects Bradish to log a 3.70 ERA and 3.65 FIP over 158 innings in 2026. That’s the kind of dependable, middle-of-the-rotation production the Padres need if they move Pivetta.
Mountcastle: The Right-Handed Bat San Diego Needs
Then there’s Ryan Mountcastle. The Orioles and Mountcastle avoided arbitration with a $6.787 million deal for 2026, and there’s a $7.5 million club option for 2027. But with Baltimore signing Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract to be their everyday first baseman, Mountcastle’s role is about to shrink - especially with Jeremiah Jackson also in the mix.
That opens the door for a move, and Mountcastle fits what the Padres are looking for. He’s a right-handed bat who could platoon at first with Sheets or even rotate with Luis Arraez at DH if San Diego explores a reunion.
Mountcastle is projected to post a .722 OPS and a 101 wRC+ in 2026 - not elite numbers, but a clear upgrade for a Padres bench that lacked depth and pop from the right side last October.
A Win-Win Deal?
This type of trade checks a lot of boxes for both teams.
For the Orioles, it’s a chance to add a veteran starter with ace-level stuff and a bullpen arm to help close out games - something they’ll need if they want to make noise in the AL. For the Padres, it’s about flexibility. They clear salary, maintain rotation depth with a younger, cheaper starter, and finally add a right-handed bat to balance the lineup.
There’s risk on both sides - Bradish is coming off surgery, and Mountcastle’s role has diminished for a reason - but the upside is real.
If the Padres and Orioles are looking to make a move before Opening Day, this might be the deal that brings it all together.