The San Diego Padres are barreling toward the trade deadline with a clear priority and a familiar sense of urgency. Despite the team sitting within striking distance of the NL West lead, the roster feels like it’s being held together with duct tape and vibes. The pitching staff is threadbare, the left field production is a black hole, and A.J. Preller has that look in his eye again—the one that usually ends with top prospects in other uniforms.
According to MLB insider Jim Bowden, the Padres “know they need another bat to lengthen their lineup” and are “focused on acquiring a left fielder.” That’s not exactly breaking news in San Diego, where the outfield carousel has spun so wildly that Gavin Sheets is now getting regular reps in left. Sheets, a designated hitter by trade, is trying to plug a position that currently ranks dead last in on-base percentage and near the bottom in batting average and slugging.
And the reinforcements aren’t coming from within. Jason Heyward is back on the IL, Jurickson Profar’s departure created a void the team never truly addressed, and the Connor Joe trade to Cincinnati looks worse by the day. Internally, there’s simply no one left to patch the gap.
So what’s next? Everything is on the table—including San Diego’s prized prospects.
The Prospect Dilemma
Bowden suggests the Padres are open to “dangling their best prospects” to secure the bat they need. That’s a bold statement, considering those prospects include Ethan Salas and Leo De Vries, two of the most hyped young players in baseball. Salas is viewed as the long-term heir behind the plate, and De Vries is seen as the type of infield cornerstone that could anchor a lineup for a decade.
Trading one of them—especially for a short-term upgrade—would raise eyebrows. Trading both would ignite a riot.
Still, the Padres operate with the kind of all-in mentality that doesn’t leave much room for patience. After all, Preller didn’t trade for Juan Soto by playing it safe.
The Garcia Gamble
One name floated is Adolis García, the Rangers slugger who’s having a down year but still carries postseason clout. His numbers—.218/.264/.380—aren’t exactly inspiring, but even those underwhelming figures are an improvement over what the Padres have gotten out of left field this year.
More importantly, García still hits the ball hard. His 93.1 mph average exit velocity this season is higher than what he posted during his 2023 All-Star campaign. His expected batting average (.242) suggests he’s due for a rebound.
Garcia might not be the guy, but he represents the type of guy Preller is eyeing. The slugger is someone with postseason pedigree, defensive chops, and power upside. It’s less about finding perfection and more about raising the floor.
Preller’s Deadline Philosophy
With Michael King and Yu Darvish still out and Dylan Cease doing his best, there’s also an argument for bolstering the rotation. But Preller seems laser-focused on patching the outfield first—and he might be right to do so.
The Padres’ offense has too many dead zones. Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts can’t carry the lineup alone, especially if the bottom half continues to produce like a Triple-A affiliate.
And here’s the thing: the window is open now. With the Dodgers and Giants vulnerable and the NL West up for grabs, San Diego can’t afford to play it safe. That’s not Preller’s style anyway.
Whether it’s Garcia, Jarren Duran, or a surprise name no one’s pegged yet, the Padres are going shopping. And if history tells us anything, they won’t leave the store without something shiny—even if they have to overpay.
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