The Padres’ frenetic trade deadline continued today, as they bolstered their offense by trading for first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn and outfielder Ramon Laureano from the Orioles. Six 2024 Padres draft picks will head to Baltimore in return: Boston Bateman, Cobb Hightower, Tyson Neighbors, Brandon Butterworth, Victor Figueroa and Tanner Smith.
O’Hearn and Laureano stood as two of the more obvious trade candidates on the Orioles’ roster. The former is a pure rental earning an $8MM salary in 2025, while the latter is owed $4MM this year and has a $6.5MM club option for the 2026 season. Both are in the midst of productive seasons at the plate, and both will provide noted upgrades to San Diego’s lineup.
The 32-year-old O’Hearn was acquired from the Royals for peanuts three years ago. His stock was low enough after the acquisition that Baltimore even succeeded in passing him through waivers. O’Hearn was selected back to the majors mid-April in 2023 and never looked back. He hit .289/.322/.480 that season and has now slashed .277/.342/.454 in three years as an Oriole. Along the way, he’s radically improved his plate discipline and hit tool. O’Hearn walked in only 4% of his 2023 plate appearances while fanning at a 22.3% clip. He’s up to an 11.6% walk rate in 2025 and has fanned at a 14% clip and 17.5% pace, respectively, in the past two seasons.
O’Hearn doesn’t hit lefties well, despite holding his own in 2025, so the Friars will likely platoon him to the extent possible. Adding a right-handed bat like Laureano makes that goal easier. The 31-year-old is in the midst of a career year at the plate, hitting .290/.355/.529 (144 wRC+) with 15 home runs in 290 plate appearances. He handles lefties well enough to take some at-bats off O’Hearn’s plate, but Laureano’s production in right-on-right matchups this year (.305/.368/.563) should be robust enough that he’s in the lineup on a daily basis.
The Padres can plug Laureano in as their primary left fielder and install O’Hearn at first base or designated hitter versus right-handed pitching. O’Hearn and Luis Arraez give the Friars a pair of lefty-swinging first base/DH options with plus contact skills (though Arraez is in a class of his own in that regard). Gavin Sheets likely loses some playing time as a result of this, though pushing him to the bench with Laureano and O’Hearn in the starting lineup makes for a much deeper group of hitters all around. Sheets being pushed into a limited role probably reduces the opportunities for Bryce Johnson and Trenton Brooks.
Laureano has played primarily in the outfield corners for the Orioles this season, though he’s no stranger to center field, either. He’s drawn plus marks in both corners both this year and throughout his big league career. That’s an important element of the acquisition in and of itself; the Padres have been a roughly average team defensively in left field this year, but that’s due primarily to early contributions from the since-released Jason Heyward. Sheets has seen plenty of time in left field and posted below-average marks there. Laureano should be a boost both with the bat and with the glove.
Given next year’s $6.5MM option, Laureano seems quite likely to be more than just a short-term rental. He’ll give the Padres an option in right next year — and an affordable one at that.
For a Padres club that is bogged down by major financial commitments to Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth, Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Nick Pivetta (among others), that’s a notable perk. The Padres already have $166MM on next year’s payroll, not including arbitration raises to Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and new acquisitions Freddy Fermin and JP Sears.
The Orioles will receive a heavy volume of lower-level prospects in exchange for the latest pair of veterans they’re shipping out. Bateman was the Padres’ second-round pick one year ago and took home an over-slot $2.5MM bonus. He’s a huge 6’8″ southpaw selected out of a California high school and has spent the 2025 season in Class-A, where he’s posted a 4.08 ERA with a 25.8% strikeout rate and 8.6% walk rate.
Baseball America ranked Bateman sixth in San Diego’s system. The lefty garners praise for a heater he runs up to 96 mph — which surely seems faster given the extension he can generate with his long levers — as well as an upper-70s curve with plus spin. He’ll have more work to do on his command as he continues to face more advanced hitters, and he’s still working to add a develop an average third pitch.
The 20-year-old Hightower was last year’s third-round pick by the Friars. He’s spent the season in Class-A and batted .239/.363/.314 in 190 plate appearances. BA had him eighth in the Padres’ system. Despite this year’s pedestrian output, he’s regarded as a bat-first infielder who may have to move off shortstop down the road.
Neighbors is a 6’1″, 220-pound righty whom San Diego selected in the fourth round out of Kansas State last year. He’s already climbed to Double-A and has pitched 43 2/3 innings with a 1.85 ERA, 37.6% strikeout rate and 10.6% walk rate in that time. Much of that success has come against younger competition, it should be noted. Baseball America calls Neighbors a no-doubt reliever with plus stuff and shaky command. He ranked 20th in the Padres’ system.
Butterworth was the Padres’ 12th-round pick last summer. The 22-year-old NC State product is having a nice year in High-A, slashing .267/.327/.455 with 11 homers, 17 doubles, seven triples and a 13-for-15 showing in stolen base attempts. He didn’t rank among the system’s 30 best prospects on BA’s most recent update. FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen listed Butterworth as No. 38 among the 38 prospects he ranked in their system last month.
Smith was a 15th-rounder out of Harvard. He’s pitched out of the bullpen in the Padres’ system this year and logged a 3.46 ERA in 26 frames between the Rookie-level Complex League and their Low-A affiliate. The 6’6″ righty has missed plenty of bats but also walked 11.6% of his opponents. He’s not a ranked prospect in the system, nor is the 21-year-old Figueroa, whom the Padres took in last year’s 18th round. Figueroa is a first baseman and corner outfielder who’s hitting .318/.420/.588 between the Complex League and Low-A — impressive numbers on the surface that were primarily compiled against teenaged opposition in the low minors.
bang bang!!
Sucks but they were all free agents or not part of moving forward. Elias needs a reset
Laureano could’ve been. But let’s see the return
Hes def the one piece im bummed about. Has an option for ’26
Laureano has been mediocre for 8 years. Not a big time player.
Laureano has been excellent this season — a highlight in a disappointing O’s season
Hes having a career year.
He was the best outfielder available. Padres are hoping that continues!
Laureano has an option for $6 mil
Laureano has an option
yes- but the team still has the core left. Adley, gunnar holliday, westberg, and cowser in the field. With Mayo, Kjerstad, Basallo and a few others starting to fill in.
This year was going nowhere, so pull the trigger and refill a system that was getting very light. with an incredible draft for hitters (irish, aloy, and de braun were all top 25 draft prospects with codine not far behind) and basically a trade deadline that restocked a ton of pitching prospects, this is now a top 5 system again.
I want to see who’s coming back. I understand the marginal prospects in the other deals but I don’t know if anyone left on padres system left. Giving up Laureano under control last year is dumb if no one of significance is in return. I’ll hold off judgement till they mention who is coming back
Farm systems don’t win playoff games. MLB players do. The Orioles will need to add at least 3 really good starting pitchers and a couple of really good relievers to have any shot at making the playoffs in 2026.
Its headlined by a 6’8″ 19 year old who is currently in A ball. He was a 2nd round pick last year
Honestly, how great can the other guys be? The return will be 6 players that never amount to much. It’s all floor dice rolls. Baltimore are getting quantity fillers
The O’s have only given up Laureano as a real impactful ML’er for 2026 in a deal thus far.
Acquired plenty of prospects to use in deals. As long as Elias uses them this offseason we’re in better shape. O’Neill is looking right now but you can’t trust his health. He ideally gives you what Laureano does.
All six were drafted in 2024. O’s get their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks!
Lol no where close to top 5
I have a lot of faith in Elias retooling with some surprisingly good relievers, he and the Orioles front office have been pretty successful in doing that. much less so with starting pitching, I think Rubenstein is going to have to bring out his checkbook in order to solve the starting dilemma, and likely overpay. but I don’t think that’s too far of a stretch to believe that will happen.
I’m probably most sad about Laureano because of what he’s meant to the team this year and the blue collar way that he gets it all done, he puts on his hard hat and comes to work. no drama, absolute professional.
I can’t remember a year where this many major league players have been traded away. they’re a lot flyers out there on prospects. I’m a little excited about the Lefty starter. bringing on 2026, go O’s!
I believe Rubes will overpay to fill the rotation, hes just not gonna overpay for 4 starters. Need the young core first. With the injuries, the rotation has been junk
Laureano is not a free agent this year. He has a cheap club option for next season. He would have been great to have around next year for the Os.
Padres are cash strapped. Might not pick that up and balt can resign him. Would be a good rh corner option with cowser moving to cf.
Maybe the O’s wanted to sell high on a guy who has been below average for about 5 seasons before this one.
Which is why they are over the 2nd tier of the CBT and just added to the payroll. Most teams in MLB wish they were that “cash strapped”.
Padres payroll is going down at least 50M next year with all at least 4 free agents leaving so they can afford that 6M option with ease.
Or he could have easily sucked next year. His record strongly suggests this year was a complete fluke.
Sounds strangely similar to Profar in 2024. Laureano even has a PEDs conviction on his mlb record.
Yeah, Laureano was much better before getting the PED suspension.
Elias needs to be selling subway tokens & in his down time doing children’s parties, he’s a clown. Ahahahahahahahaha!
Alright! Alright! Alright!
Friars have done about the most in adding to their team, maybe tied with Mariners and Yankees.
bro the whole team :’(
LFG!!
What’s with your handle? He isn’t in the HOF in Cooperstown, unless you have an issue with him being in the Mets’ HOF. He belongs there for what he’s done on and off of the field.
So you’re saying you agree with me. Thanks.
He’s not in, and shouldn’t be.
What about Keith Hernandez?
Nope and nope. He’s in the Hall of Excellent though.
Elaine wasn’t too into him after see him smoke.
Seeing* him smoke.
Plus, he made a crucial error that ruined Kramer and Newman’s day..
Then came the 2nd spitter.
The magic loogie
I do love this trade from a need standpoint
Dang, San Diego isn’t messing around this year. Good luck to Don Orsillo and the boys.
Meow – The Padres are doing what the Red Sox *say* they will do every trade deadline, but never do …. they are going for it.
But I’ll still give the Red Sox a 74-minute benefit of the doubt.
Still have room for Duran if the Red Sox trade for All Star Closer Suarez lol!
San Diego traded Bateman for a bum on an expiring contract and a LF with a history of mediocracy.
Bateman is a good prospect. I thought Bateman was the Padres best prospect.
Salas? people have soured on him as a blue chipper, but he is still above Boston. Kash is also up there… the other 4 prospects here are to be seen.
BW – Bateman does not increase the Padres chances at a ring in 25 (or 26). It will be nice to have these 2 bats (and even gloves) in the lineup over some underperforming holes.
Laureano at his 2 spot and Hearn at 5 gives lots of creative options.
Yikes, I guess, Laureano is a nice addition. Bateman is a lot to part with.
Good trade, I guess you didn’t have much else to offer.
Padres seriously upgraded their lineup.
They just drafted 30+ more players in the MLB draft
so chill out.
30?
Yes, the San Diego Padres signed a total of 30 new players, consisting of all 19 of their draft picks and 11 undrafted free agents, according to MLB.com. They were able to sign their entire draft class before the July 28 deadline.
Milk the farm!! Go all in & get knocked out by the Dodgers & have to rebuild in the next 3-5 years haha
and if they do nothing people will still complain!!
Yeah people said the same thing after they traded the farm for Soto. No wonder you’re still poor and haven’t won the lotto. Your predictions suck.
They probably would have had a vastly better shot at a ring with Wood, Abrahams and Gore. Not sure what you think you were flexing about bragging about that trade.
Keeping Gore over Cease King Vasquez is a silly take
Soto, Profar, Sheets have done what James Wood does
Abrams has posted 3.5 WAR Bogaerts 2 WAR and Kim posted similar WAR previous years compared to Abrams.
So no. They wouldn’t have had vastly better shots considering who they kept has given them better production in the rotation, similar production in the OF, and somewhat lesser production at SS.
Wood, Abrams, and Gore will only add to that WAR total and competitive window for years down the line.
That’s most ludicrous take I’ve ever heard. Good thing Preller has fans like you.
As will
Vasquez and Brito and if they deal Cease
Whoever they choose to play in LF
Whoever they choose to play at ss
Or do you think Padres don’t get WAR too?
“I can’t disprove anything you said so I’m gonna use personal attacks”
Why even bother commenting back if you’re just gonna acknowledge what I said was correct cause you failed to disprove anything lmao. Waste of your time commenting back really. But hey it’s your time you can waste it however you see fit. Don’t let me stop you from being wrong.
You lost me when you said Sheets was as productive as Wood. No the Padres players won’t continue to get WAR because King will be on another team next year.
Who personally attacked you? No one is going to debate you when you say Sheets is as productive as Wood. Soto isn’t on your team anymore. He has nothing to offer the Padres from winning a World Series.
Perhaps. But the Nationals have those guys and they’re gonna lose 90 games.
.244/.317/.449 vs righties for sheets .766 OPS
Wood hit .263/.365/.495 OPS .860
As the left side of a platoon in the OF Sheets have given them fine production. Saying they’d be significantly better with Wood is silly cause Sheets has posted fine production in his place.
Is the extra .90 OPS really worth losing Vasquez King Cease while keeping Gore? Lmao no. No it is not.
.90 OPS difference choosing Wood over Sheets doesn’t make up for keeping Gore and not having King Cease and Vasquez. Not even close.
This is a crazy take. They didn’t win anything in the past years you’re referencing, and all the guys they sent away did those things as rookies. They still have full careers ahead of them. The padres didn’t win anything World Series, they didn’t even play in one, they didn’t sign Soto long term. They’ve done exactly what OP outlines, continue to throw any remaining prospects at NLDS appearances and mediocrity. Except they’re at the bottom of the farm barrel, so it’s only going to get uglier from here.
Wow. Wood is 22 and in year 2. He is a premier talent in the league. Justifying Sheets to Wood is just sad. If you think King is vastly better than Gore then you are definitely trying to justify this because you are a Padre fan. Gore is also still under control after this season. King also benefits a great deal from pitching in a pitchers park. He’s also been injured most of the year. Now you haven’t even mentioned Abram’s. What would have the 250 million dollar contract the Padres have to Bogaerts bought if they kept Abram’s? They wouldn’t have hade to make all these silly Hail Mary moves today. They are compounding bad decisions.
Well buy that logic every team including yours is a loser every season they don’t win a World Series.
Reading skills aren’t your strong suit
Let me help you
Sheets King Vasquez Cease > Wood Gore
Math is hard I know.
Wood having an OPS of .860 and Sheets having an OPS of .766 isn’t worth keeping Gore over King Cease Vasquez
See your brain apparently can’t handle the fact we are talking multiple positions and you’re just focusing on Wood and Sheets for some strange reason
Probably because you can’t handle being wrong that what the padres have gotten out of SS, LF, SP has actually kept them competitive and having Wood Abrams and Gore wouldn’t make them significantly better like you incorrectly claimed.
“ They probably would have had a vastly better shot at a ring with Wood, Abrahams and Gore”
Nope. Keeping them over Kim/Bogaerts, Cease King Vasquez, Profar Soto Sheets wouldn’t have given the padres a vastly better shot.
Losing just 90 would be an improvement of one win.
Padres are the only team that know how to beat the dodgers anytime they want
There’s a reason their fans chant Beat LA
“Padres are the only team that know how to beat the dodgers anytime they want”
Last fall was a very odd time to not want to beat them.
2024 NLDS?
huh? so they didn’t want to win the LDS last year and only wanted to win two of seven games this season?
The Dodgers benefited from an extremely weak league last year. Every fanbase thinks their favorite team are October world beaters after they win a WS.
yeah, by that logic why didn’t the rest of the teams benefit from a weak league?
and after winning a world series, they actually are world beaters. absolutely bizarre reasoning. giving stone roses a bad name.
Because those teams were mediocre, that’s why. Going into June more than half the league was under .500. The postseason on the AL side was weak as well. The Dodgers only competition was the Padres. The point was playoff teams don’t tend to replicate their success from the previous year. Hince why we haven’t had a repeat champ in 25 years.
what are you even talking about? nine teams in the NL finished above .500 and six finished below. “going into June” is meaningless because the Padres were one of those teams below .500 and now you are touting them as the only competition the Dodgers faced.
“going into June” is meaningless because the Padres were one of those teams below .500 and now you are touting them as the only competition the Dodgers faced.”
Right, more teams improved over the second half than the first, but that doesn’t mean they were good. This may come as a shock, but records don’t tell the whole story of teams.
Examples:
The Braves were the most apt definition of the word “mid” In almost every single metric category and were an auto win for any team that played them. They were by far the worst 89 team I’ve ever seen.
The Phillies went 33-33 in the second half.
The Mets were barely over .500 in the first half and went on a hot streak.
The Royals and Tigers were a couple of mediocre teams that just happened to win their first matchups against superior teams.
It was almost universally agreed that last year was the weakest competition we’ve seen in the game in a while. Even Roberts said the Padres were the only matchup that they were actually challenged. You sound like the Dodger fans on FaceBook back in 2020 trying to cope with the fact that a 60 game season was somehow “harder” to win because there more playoff teams.
lol, no it is not universally agreed
It seems the Padres are the team that drafts the guys with the best names.
It continued this year with Kruz Schoolcraft, Ryan Wideman, Truitt Madonna among them.
Padres, Phillies, and Mets have all been very aggressive, and the Dodgers have that $450 million payroll. Somebody is going to be very disappointed. Wouldn’t it be something if the Cubs or Brewers sent them all back home?!?!
I dont think LA will beat SD in the playoffs this year. SD is really good now.
It appears the Padres strategy is to shorten the game with a lockdown bullpen. Padres already had the best bullpen in baseball. Adding the A’s Closer just makes them even more competitive.
And, the Padres have made serious upgrades @ Catcher, LF, 1B/DH.
Not sold on JP Sears,
Would have rather have either Kolek or Bergerts.
Could the Padres have substituted 1 of their other minor league pitchers in the KC catcher deal and kept Kolek or Bergerts?!
That said, Petco Park(pitchers park), the Padres great defense and maybe some adjustments from the Padres pitching coaches could unlock
a better version of JP Sears and improve his ERA.
Many Championships have been won by teams with lockdown bullpens,.
that will be a long rebuild since they are selling the literal farm this year. going into this their farms value was 50% de vreies (gone), 25% salas, and 25% everything else (boston, mayfield being a lot of that). So they are losing like 60-70% of the value of their farm.
As I have been posting for a long time, the Padres farm system players have been vastly undervalued by laptop Fan/GMs and the media.
Notice how the Soto trade exposed the Nationals farm and drafting as subpar?! The Nats return in the Soto deal was better than 5=6 years of the Nats own drafts and signings.
It is one of the reasons the Nats GM was fired this year.
Preller and his team have a talent for finding unheralded, under rated talent. He has torn down the Padres farm 2-4 times since he has been in charge of the Padres and quickly rebuilt it each time in a few short years.
After seeing the results and his modus operandi, I have no reason to believe that AJ Preller won’t quickly restock the Padres farm.
He already signed 30 players this year from the draft and non drafted free agents. If you multiply that by 3 years then he should have a pool of 90 players to work with and sift through in a few years.
And, Preller and his team hit on a higher percentage of drafted and signed players than many other teams.
And, they could always deal Miller after 2 or 3 years in a Padres uni and get a very nice return as another option.
Not worried about it…
:Padres knocked the Dodgers out a few years ago.
Mookie Betts said in a podcast that the Padres were the best team they played last year in the playoffs and that includes the NYY.
Betts said Dodgers were worried the Padres would knock then out last year.
Padres now have a stronger team than last year.
half these commenters must be on extreme psychedelics.
padres are having a HUGE deadline
I imagine their farm system headquarters have sirens going off right now because Preller is burning down the building again
I think any of us could he starting tonight for a SD minor league team!
Stumpy the Clown is now their 30th ranked prospect after emptying the farm.
The “again” is the key word here.
Padres reload the farm every year.
They signed something like 30 players in the MLB draft including non drafted free agents.
Preller called the San Diego zoo to see if he could draft any of the animals
Bet they don’t have the great names of the guys they just traded.
It’s like giving a child a stuffed horse and the child thinks they can ride the horse to grandmas house
Whoa whoa whoa!
YES! PLEASE DON’T GET FLEECED!
WHAT IS EVEN LEFT?!?
@straightup they might’ve to cancel the minor league games.
They signed a ton of undrafted FA after the draft so seems like they knew they were going to need to backfill
As of now it’s Salas and who? Salas is not safe right now
Salas may be on the table because the Padres are almost out of stock on everything. He alone won’t be the centerpiece of a deal.
Bateman is the headliner.
for the pair- it is either Salas, a recent draftee, of half of the rest of their system
Can’t trade 2025 picks yet.
i thought after the Trea Turner deal they changed the rule. you cannot trade the picks, but i thought basicaly once they are signed you can trade them
Draftees can’t be traded until after the season is over. Previously, it was a calendar year after signing.
Now breaking…one of the prospects going to Baltimore revealed to be 5 raccoons in a trench coat pretending to be a baseball player. A league investigation is expected to be announced soon lol.
Dang
Wow!!!!!!
Why?
Zach you must not have been keeping up SD’s needs.
Orioles r screwed
how? They are sellers- and the only guys not controlled after this year they moved are Leurano who is a corner OF on a team with 5 others (cowser, Oneil, Kjerstad being the guys who need big league reps in the corner OF) and Baker who was a middle reliever that i think they just got too good of an offer to say no (the 27th overall pick). Everything else they moved they can sign in the offseason if they want. Honestly i think there is a non 0 chance they sign mullin in the offseason since I think they are not sold on Banfield generally and cowser in center (he really is better suited in the corners)
Urias was controllable for next year. And that’s the only trade that doesn’t make sense.
Backup utility guys can be a cheaper ss from aaa or they want matoes in that role.
Oh, this should be good!
How!?! What could they possibly have left!?!
Kash Mayfield. No way Salas is going.
Mayfield, Cruz, Haynes, Mendez; a few other notable arms but not many lol
Mostly underperforming young prospects, zero starting pitching as of today and an injured Bautista. Good times….good times
Congrats Padres fans! Preller was cooking and I think he delivered and more.
Hoyer has disappointed me here. I hate this pessimism that’s starting to sink in…
I’m highly surprised the Cubs haven’t done more.
Effing prosoect hugging that’s what Hoyer is doing. He’s been extended so now he’s going to be either worse at dumpster diving or prospect hugging…
these guys would not have fit well for the cubs needs, Also the Os likely would have wanted Brown/Hodge (maybe settled for Assad/Wicks)
RHSP Cease and Closer Suarez are still available
Aj preller still the wildest wild man in all of mlb gm-ing lol!
0 Zero rings for Preller. He’s not a good GM.
Ok? And what does that have to do with enjoying his Wildman trading shenanigans exactly lol?
But we could have one following what Preller accomplished today. So there’s that.
It’s possible, but I don’t think so. They were better two years ago than they are today.
25 current GMs have no rings. Are they all not good GMs?
Laureano has been a stud. Both sides of the ball too
Yeah I’m mad the reds didn’t get him
The Reds haven’t tailored their offense to their ballpark. It feels like a big fail because they have some good starting pitching.
Yeah they aren’t that far from being a good team, but they only make lateral moves at best
They’re starting to resemble the Mariners of the past few years, with solid starting pitching, but a pedestrian offense.
Mariners stepped up this week though.
Indeed they did.
Wow
Two birds in the hand is still worth less than Michael Busch.
Lots of teams want to win. It should make for a fun October.
BANG there is it
Preller blowing up the farm
He’s straight salting the earth
And have it rebuilt in 2 years with
2025, 2026, 2027 drafts and ifa signings
I gives Padres kudos for scouting, for sure.
It was already blown up. Pretty soon they’re going to have open try outs to fill in the gaps.
Man preller is a mad man
AJ ruining the padres if they don’t win.
And you know what? Next year he’ll have prospects and he’ll do it all over again
You don’t give up what you gave up for miller when the need wasn’t that serious. Hes moving them like cards.
Yup!
The Padres certainly have improved over the last 24 hours. They better win……
Move over DD… AJ is da man.
Preller is burning the ships
Pads get their LF and DH in one deal
Reds could have used both.
Just shaking my head today as usual.
Preller is a god damn madman
Omg good on y’all in San Diego.
Baltimore making moves.. hope the return is a good one!
Who is even left to trade!?
I’m sure there is a AA catcher with bad knees left.
They actual have 1 great AA c prospect and 1 pretty good one.
does salas have had knees since i would freak if he was one of the guys in this deal.
Bateman alone is a great headliner prospect, If Preller moved Mayfield too in this deal i would be over the moon, but i expect the rest of the package to be low minors guys towards the bottom of their top 30ish guys (which is not great)
Damn, wasn’t expecting them to both go in the same deal. Laureano has been a beast for us, same with O’Hearn. Padres definitely getting some quality players.
Padres get some quality, orioles are getting quantity of minor leaguers that will never amount to much
As I have been saying, there is a lot of hidden value in those Padres prospects
I figured Elias was going to do this with a pairing that made sense to get a higher end prospect. He had a ton of guys that would garner FV 40-45 prospects that he was moving. So he just needed to find the team that needed 2 of those guys and was willing to just give a FV 50 guy instead of a pair of 45s….
I expect it to be something like one of the 3-4 releivers they moved/will move with one of the hitters- but this works.
Preller went all in for 2025 and still got players with long-term control in Miller, Sears, and Fermin, and at least one more season in Laureano. Only O’Hearn is a rental.
I do want to point out that there were no rumors at all that the Padres were even interested in any of those players other than Laureano.
Miller did have rumors, but that was the day before. Could’ve just naturally been trade chatter escaping.
I didn’t see any on here that mentioned the Padres.
In America’s history the one constant has been baseball. And in baseball the one constant is that the Padres usually are a team and behave as a team in direct opposition to national narratives.
There’s the OF and bench bat the Padres need. Preller should be done now, take Cease off the block, run this team the final 2 months, and tweak it in the off season.
O’hearn needs to be playing everyday at 1b/dh. Possibly mixing in at left field on occasion. I would guess this makes Gavin sheets more of a platoon/bench bat if anything.
O’Hearn will be platooned. He doesn’t hit LHP well.
Neither does sheets tho so I figure you might wanna go with the better overall player. You’re probably more familiar with the pads bench than I am tho to be fair.
This is Preller time, two phones one in each ear, just wheeling and dealing.
Meanwhile Friedman is doing nothing to make the Dodgers better.
Dodgers have Snell coming back, they don’t need to worry. They will get one more pitcher minutes before deadline. So will Cubs.
He’s eating popcorn watching the show knowing his team will still win the division
Padres will now win the Division.
They are only 3 games back.
They improved by at least 10 games with all those new players.
They didn’t improve 10 games over an entire season, let alone with 53 remaining.
Well doesn’t Miller essentially replace tanner Scott? And several of the other players they got were all dfa’d in the past 18 months..sooo
AnJ had him on hold for the last hour of the deadline.
Can Preller run my team?
He sure is entertaining..too bad for pads fans it hasn’t translated to a real win thus far
Yeah, I like that they’re actually trying to win. Now does that come back to bite them in the future? Maybe, but I feel like that has been said for a while about them.
Actually, now that I think about it more, just let Preller run the deadline because I am reminded of the Xander contract.
Preller is going to win a trade deadline ring
Padres win the deadline.
No rings for that…
For Suárez?
Not worth If this is true…kashfield should do for these rentals
Oh damn, a two-fer!
It’s very sad to see O’Hearn go, his comeback from the DFA scrap heap to making the AS team was really one of the highlights of the last few years of Orioles baseball, but with Mayo and Basallo both on track for 1B/DH roles in 2026 (and Kjerstad maybe?), there was no real path to him staying in Baltimore.
Also a little surprised Laureano wasn’t retained with that cheap club option for next year, but I’m fine with selling high on him.
Ohearn was a nice surprise and he seemed to really enjoy the ride. Laureano is interesting because I’d rather keep him but for the right return it makes sense
I haven th heard who’s coming back to Orioles. There’s nothing left in Padres minors so hard to believe we are getting anything Jg back so to include Laureano under cheap control next year is stupid unless I see someone of significance in return and I do t mean A or AA players
The Bateman guy looks real nice. 6’8″ lefty, 2rd pick last year, HS kid, 19 yo in A ball. He fits the ” type” Orioles have been fixated with…giants on the mound!
There is plenty of talent left in the Padres system enough for the Padres to over pay the Orioles in this deal.
Congrats to SD. Great GM set that team up to win a WS.
About time. Thank goodness. Now some depth at SP.
I wish.
Did I say somewhere else that Preller and the Padres are a lot of fun?!
If the Padres miss the playoffs, Preller is 100% out of a job.
Vegas, for making multiple moves to improve the team?
If they don’t make the playoffs it will be because of injuries or failure of professional athletes to perform to their capabilities.
It won’t be AJ’d fault.
To improve his team for one season. Which, if they don’t make the playoffs, will be a waste.
Only one player acquired is a rental. The others have 1-4 more years of team control.
What will be his fault is the bad position he’s put them in for 2026 and beyond. He better win now.
So for the 29 other teams, their GM’s get fired?
LAD – with that payroll and don’t win, fire GM?
NYM – same.
NYY – same.
Tor – didn’t do anything and don’t win – fired?
And so on.
What bad position? Padres will still have Miller, Sears, Fermin,and Wagner beyond 2026. :Laureano will still be a Padre next season. Musgrove will return next season so the rotation will still be really good even without any additions in FA in the offseason or moving Morejon or Miller into it.. The bullpen will still be lights out even if Suarez opts out.
In 2026 they have Pivetta, Musgrove, Darvish, Vasquez, Sears and will no doubt add via trade or FA (King?). Maybe Mendez cracks the roster, but that will likely be in long relief. They may not have to convert Miller or Morejon (who have both started in the past, but have shown more value as RPs). Next year’s bullpen is intact, sans Suarez.
Totally agree and the regulars are pretty much. 1b / DH is open but really, they like Arreaz and I wonder if O’Hearn isn’t an audition?
I’d bring back Iglesias in a heartbeat for his Bench D.
A lot of money coming off the books – if King isn’t extended it must be totally because he wants to play somewhere else.
Padres are not missing the playoffs.
They could win the Division, the playoffs and the World Series with this New Improved team.
Let’s see what kind of garbage Baltimore gets in return, because that’s all they’ve gotten so far with the other trades they made
Padres have one of the best scouting and talent acquisition teams in MLB.
This trade may be help set up the pitching nucleus the Orioles
have been missing to complement all their position player talent,
Preller completed his shopping list with more than an hour to spare
Boston Bateman has closer written all over him…
“Minor league righty…”
Isn’t Bateman a lefty?
Damn SD is on one big time
Preller to his staff, who else can we trade? We need more prospects to trade. I don’t care who they are. More, more, more! Now!!
Boston Bateman (a Tragedeigh name) has a 5-5 record with a 4+ ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. That’s the dude you’re getting for almost 5 WAR? I hate the Padres, and even I think if Salas wasn’t involved, the Orioles got fleeced.
Got Bateman instead of Batman
He’s their #4 prospect. It’s solid value for the O’s.
You’re talking about a 19-year-old A-ball pitcher with excellent peripherals.
The league average ERA in the California league is 4.55. Throw out the San Jose team which plays in an extreme pitchers park and the league average ERA is 5.11. Context matters when talking about ERA. He is a good pitching prospect and only 19 years old.
All six players the O’s got were 2024 draft picks, included were their 2nd, 3rd, and 4th picks. They didn’t get fleeced!
Bateman, not to be confused with Batman.
Wow.
So the Orioles get Jason Bateman’s kid.
Preller is DEVIOUS.
Buckshot trade!
Bateman is a LHP not righty, He bats righty.
“Boston Bateman” a single A level pitcher with an ERA of 4.. that’s who the orioles got for giving up 2 very good major league hitters. Worst GM Baltimore ever had
Using ERA to evaluate an SP in the lower minors, Lofl.
You are certainly not a “baseball dude.”
Please my man, don’t pretend like you’re a baseball scout. He’s not impressing anybody in (single A) so what do you think? He’s going to thrive in AA AAA or MLB? lol learn little guy
Better to be thought a fool than to double down in your replies and prove it.
The league average ERA in the California league is 4.55. Throw out the San Jose team which plays in an extreme pitchers park and the league average ERA is 5.11. Context matters when talking about ERA. He is a good pitching prospect and only 19 years old.
OP has the most unearned confidence I’ve seen on this site. Absolute know-nothing.
道奇要完了,機乎沒補強,對手教士補一堆
“five additional minor leaguers on their way back to Baltimore in a volume-heavy package.”
Padres are just going to go without a Double-A team the rest of this season.
Well, given that they’ve traded away most of their quality prospects last 2-3 years, including this deadline, it now has to be quantity over quality. Be on the lookout for the open tryouts for those out there who’ve played some ball. Hehe.
Bwahaha… AJP is really burning down the farm! He is a madman… but I love it.
Let’s see if I can figure this out
C: Fermin, Diaz or Maldonado
IF: O’Hearn, Cronenworth, Machado, Bogaerts,
OF: Tachman, Merrill, Tatis
DH: Arraez
BN: Iglesias, Sheets? Johnson?
SP: Cease, Pivetta, Darvish, King, Sears
Something like that?
C: Fermin, Diaz
1B: Arraez
2B: Cronenworth
SS: Bogaerts
3B: Machado
CF: Merrill
RF: Tatis
LF: Laureno
DH: Ohearn or sheets
Yeah, not sure how they work Arraez, O’Hearn, and Sheets between 1B/DH.
yeah
That is a damn good lineup though
SUHG
Sheets is worse than Arraez and O’Hearn, so they play Arraez and O’Hearn more
I think Sheets is better than Arraez, but you’re probably right about how it shakes out. Hopefully, they will keep Sheets.
Maldonado is gone hopefully.
O’Hearn will platoon at DH/1B because he doesn’t hit LHP well.
Arraez will start at 1B
Tauchman is not a Padre
Laureano will start in LF
Sheets will platoon at DH/LF
With the acquisition of Will Wagner Iglesias may be gone.
Vasquez will start over Sears.
“Tauchman is not a Padre
Laureano will start in LF”
I cannot keep those dudes straight.
Also OMG will still get some starts vs lefties and he has hit them well in his career
I haven’t looked at the splits for O’Hearn vs Sheets but who is our DH against lefties? Iglesias? Johnson or Wagner?
O’Hearn 92 wrc+
Sheets 86 wrc+.
OMG 105 wrc+ vs lefties
So we will prob see all three at times. Jose obviously brings plus defense to get infielders days off their feet. Gives the padres some viable bench options which they have had. Wry little of this year. On top of Wade/reynolds whoever stays getting some pinch run opportunities. It’s a pretty well rounded team.
Keep in mind Laureano has been crushing righties. So he may not be benched vs them.
Thanks Simm! I’m traveling and it’s frustrating that I lack time now to dig into what happened yesterday! Seems like we may have a slight weakness against lefties, though better than we were 24 hours ago. Wonder what Fermin’s splits are.
Weirdly he has also been better vs righties.
86/63
Though he has been better in June and July than the previous months.
Good news there are more righties than lefies in the league.
Funny how people dislike the way Preller operates; he uses his prospects for what they are prospects to be used to get what you want at that moment to improve your ML club. If those traded prospects turn out to be good Preller says so, be it. But his team is playing for a playoff berth., he has gone out and improved his team right now and if it gets him where he wants to be at the end of the regular season like he said before so be it.
I do agree in the general concept that most GMs hold on to their prospects too long and overvalue them relative to acquiring proven MLB players. But Preller has gone off the deep end with that concept. The right balance is some where way to the other side of Preller. But indeed, most GMs should be trading prospects, even their more elite ones, more frequently.
It almost is like the NFL draft, where a lot of teams use their draft pick to improve their teams, some NFL GM say they use future draft picks as their leverage. Well Preller don’t have that concept in MLB, and if he did oh my God, he would not have hardly any picks in the future.
The model only works if you have elite talent acquisition (draft, IFA, waivers, trades, buy-low), and Preller is seriously one of the hardest-working FO guys in the league.
Man, I was hoping Mets would get Laureano instead of Mullins.
“5 more additional leaguers” lol = so Baltimore gets 6 guys that never amount to anything.. same old Orioles with a terrible GM
I bet you said the exact same thing when we acquired 4 guys for Dylan Bundy.
Bundy wasn’t very good – O’Hearn & Laureano are good. Bradish was the only good return, but who cares because he practically missed two seasons
Padres talent is underrated by some media outlets.
GMs , Scouts and Front Office Officials know better.
Wow, Preller cleaning out the farm system…?
How do the Padres have anyone left in their farm?
They just loaded up in the MLB draft and undrafted free agents so they are doing good!
I’m enjoying this as someone without a dog in the fight that is the NL west. Go get em pads haha
Awesome! Welcome to San Diego fellas
Hopefully they continue thumping for you guys!
Thanx Flocher! Good luck with the prospects amigo!
Love this deal for us, ngl 🙂
Win-win, the best kind of trade. Cheers bub
How about that! I think we’re all set. Keep Cease and Suarez and let’s rock. I’ll keep pressing F5. LFGSD!
Just when I think Preller has lost his mind in past trades/signings in past years…He does these trades and continues to show us that he has indeed lost his mind.
KABOOM!
Fireworks like the 4th of July!
Great for the Padres “All in Push”
for the playoffs and World Series.
Fantastic for Baltimore loading up on great pitching
to match up with their great, core position players lineup!
If I were the padres I would keep cease and move him to the bullpen he has been great the first two times through the lineup.
King
Darvish
Privetta
Sears
Vasquez
But with cease in the bullpen you can shorten the game every game you can do what the dodgers did in playoffs last year and throw a bullpen game back to back if you have to.
I expec sears to thrive in San Diego with Nieva. He has a great career war for being on a terrible team and his ks and whip are solid
Have you seen the Padres bullpen? Why in the world would they move Cease to the pen that is already the best in baseball?
I explained why in my post! Cease ceases to be good when the 5th inning starts and it’s been that way since his no hitter.
Yeah. No. Try again.
you must not have watched the dodgers conquer the post season last year with this strategy. enjoy the rest of the season
The Padres just added Mason Miller to what was already the best bullpen in baseball. The Padres bullpen this season was already much better than than the Dodgers bullpen last season. A full half point of ERA and FIP better.
Cease will continue to start.
Go learn at least SOMETHING about the sport of baseball and then come back.
Cease after the 5th inning
6th inning – .167/.194/.200/.394
7th inning – .133/.278/.333/.611
You even got things that are easy to look up wrong.
How many times has he got to
The 6th? Look that up
Ok let’s get personal. I’ve watched this team and baseball for 45 years. You are obviously a miserable person. You disagree move on.
This year how many times this year has cease got through the 5th and 6th Mr encyclopedia
Try looking yourself before making more stupid comments. I posted his numbers in those innings, so obviously he has pitched in them.
LMFAO. I have been a season ticket holder for the Padres that long.
Deflection
how many times has he made it to those innings this year?
Living in San Diego and that miserable. Dang
Chipper- you did say cease was horrible after the 5th and that’s what he proved wrong.
So cease maybe bad between 1/-4 innings but has been good after the 5th. You didn’t say how often does he make it to the 6th
“Simm
1 second ago
Chipper- you did say cease was horrible after the 5th and that’s what he proved wrong.”
No, he didn’t. He said.
“chipper54
8 hours ago
I explained why in my post! Cease ceases to be good when the 5th inning starts and it’s been that way since his no hitter.”
When the 5th inning STARTS. That includes the 5th inning.
“Pads Fans
7 hours ago
Cease after the 5th inning
6th inning – .167/.194/.200/.394
7th inning – .133/.278/.333/.611
You even got things that are easy to look up wrong.”
So, PF either
1) saw Ceases’ terrible numbers in the 5th and decided NOT to post them
2) doesn’t know about baseball – that the 5th inning comes after the start of the 5th inning
3) made an honest mistake – got something wrong that was easy to look up.
Cease in the 5th inning
5th inning – .342/.412/.699/1.11o
So, Cease AFTER the BEGINNING of the 5th inning (you know, what Chipper said)
5th to 7th innings – .271/.338/.525/.863
That OPS his higher than the season OPS of:
James Wood
Cody Bellinger
Brent Rooker
Riley Greene
Elly De La Cruz
Pete Alonso
Freddy Freeman
If you’re turning the opposing hitters into those guys, that’s, uh, not good.
Exactly what Chipper said.
I don’t [care] who wins this stupid argument that you guys are having, but make it a little bit less stupid by at least arguing the right damn thing. Especially, PF, if you’re going to be all smug and sling insults, you should at least get your argument right.
Fair enough
clippers’ takes above are reasonable suggestions. The strength/depth of the Padres bullpen now gives Shildt a lot of flexibility on his use of starters, playing to their individual strengths rather than to paradigms. And frankly we’ve seen that in play on the Padres this year with the regular use of Vasquez/Bergert innings 1-4. Whatever it takes to win games.
I am glad they kept Cease, and apparently AJ was always just listening and not at all aggressively shopping him for necessary payroll reductions, as Acee, Lin, Bow tie Bob and others (Steve Adams) were constantly suggesting.
I muted him. There is a point when people just want to be haters in the face of facts and I have no time for them.
PF
You mean like you posting Cease’s 6th and 7th inning stats while ignoring the 5th inning to “disprove” Chipper’s claim that Cease struggled from the beginning of the 5th inning? Then including HIM.
THAT kind of hating facts?
Or, maybe it was just a mistake
“chipper54
9 hours ago
If I were the padres I would keep cease and move him to the bullpen he has been great the first two times through the lineup.”
1st time through – .597 OPS.
2nd time through – .906 OPS
3rd time through – .705 OPS
No. he hasn’t been great the fist two times through.
He’s been great the first time through. And bad the second time through. And good the 3rd time through.
Again. I do not care about THIS argument. I do care about making good arguments though.
If you’re going to fight online, at least make some sense when you do so, and don’t embarrass yourselves by commenting absolute nonsense.
I’m not taking a position on this, but would interject that looking at this year’s data alone is not necessarily a good predictor of Cease’s performance the next two months. I do support the idea of managing SPs to the individual strengths of players and overall qualities of the bullpen support. The Padres have a lot of flexibility to do so now with their absurdly deep pen.
The only thing so far that I’d challenge Elias on is 1. Is the return for OHearn better that the draft pick you’d get from a QO and 2. How do you replace the defense and right handed production you had on the cheap from Laureano next year.
Ohearn accepts and you pay him way over market to clog up 1st.
1000% agree on Laureano
Attending Padres minor league games is going to be an adventure. Take a glove if you have one, you might end up in the lineup ..
Will they ever do anything in the playoffs, provided they make it there? Always the Padres getting the big name and always the Padres selling them off at the end of the season.
Preller is an absolute menace.
They literally sold Soto. Who else have they been selling off. Trading Soto was smart because he got paid a bag while we got controlled players for him
Don’t act like the Padres haven’t tried to buy a championship since Preller took over. Who…me? Trade for every big name and trade away all your future and hope something clicks. I’m sure it will work this time. Maybe next.
They only person we have sold to cut payroll in the last 9 years was Soto.
That’s it…
I’ve been hearing the old…you traded your future away for 5 years. When does the future start so I know when to brace for this pain.
2026?
2027?
2028? When will this future traded away catch up?
Why do I have a bad feeling Sheets will be included in this deal?
Thank goodness he’s not
Yes thank goodness it’s not! But dang, that’s a haul.
Yeah our entire minor league is like gone.
Except for Salas but his stock is way down.
Salas is the #20 prospect in baseball.
He’s been hurt almost the entire year with back problems. Still think that hurt his stock.
Being very young and hurt doesn’t necessarily equate to being a bust. He’s already proven to have MLB-ready skills defensively which is astounding for his age.
Welcome to the Aberdeen (Frederick?) Orioles.!
Nice to see the Oriolez hold on for Mrs Butterworth when they couldn’t get Aunt Jemima
Too “woke” /s
Bateman, Neighbors and Hightower? Good gosh Padres. They do a great job of drafting then just give it all away.
Neighbors is a stud. Bateman has huge potential. I like this deal for the Orioles for sure.
Neighbors is a big arm, but I pump the brakes on a 22-year-old reliever in AA a bit. Bateman is the big prize, undoubtedly.
He went to college. How old is he supposed to be?
He’s a stud. Future closer. And Bateman has huge upside. I wish my Cardinals had worked something out with the Padres. Maybe they still will.
I’m pretty sure the Padres are done at this point. I have nothing against Neighbors; I’m just being thorough. K% is down a third from A+ to AA (though still good). He has a good pitch mix, though, I’m guessing he’ll be a BP asset sooner rather than later.
Astros pushing hard to acquire Dylan Cease according to online reports.
Mark Feinsand
@Feinsand
The Astros are pushing hard to acquire Dylan Cease from the Padres, per source. Cease was Houston’s top target as of Wednesday night, and after trading for Carlos Correa and Jesus Sanchez, that is still the case.
33 MINUTES LEFT ON THE CLOCK!
Cam Smith?
Padres are not going to have a farm system left after today. Sheesh!
Where is Baltimore going to put all these prospects? Isn’t there a strict limit to number of people on minor league rosters?
They have plenty of underperforming talent in the lower minors that could be released
Are they saying Bateman is the headliner? If the O’s don’t come out of this with either Cruz, Salas or Mayfield then they got hosed! I don’t get trading Laureano? Dudes been a beast and under contract cheaply next year! I like Bateman as a 2nd or 3rd piece but if it’s Bateman and 5 other outside the top 10 it’s ridiculous. If we gave up a 2 war player and a 3 war player for 1 Top 200 prospect it’ll look as bad as the Rodger’s trade looked last year. I’m hoping it’s Humberto Cruz, Boston Bateman, Isiah Lowe and I’ll be happy.
Looks like a bunch of minor league filler coming back to Baltimore here. Bateman and Neighbors are solid gets but yikes at the rest. Hard to believe they couldn’t get a better deal.
I think that this is a serious overpay on the Padres part.
Get traded by Preller and you have a great future, a few All-Star games, and a long career of haunting the Padres every time you play them. Preller needs an intervention.
That goes for all prospects traded? Naw, man…
Obviously, not all. However, 7 players traded away by Preller were All-Star players in 2024. No chance he ever buys green bananas or ages a bottle of wine.
Gotta give to get. The Padres are single-handedly bringing parity to baseball. Hahahaha
What does Mrs Butterworth think about it?
Quietly the best post of the entire thread.
But that wasn’t his ultimate goal. Al B DAMNED just want his team to win.
Great trade for both better for Os
Wow. Quite a haul for the O’s. #s 4, 6, 12 and 29 according to pipeline. Couple of others as well. Couldn’t have done much better imo.
Bateman and Figueroa are the most interesting to me, but good volume infusion for the O’s.
Cobb Hightower is definitely a nice get. Loved him coming out of high school. Legit bat and a high floor prospect. I for one am Really disappointed we didn’t land one of Humberto Cruz or Kash Mayfield. I think the O’s are going to regret trading Laureano. Not all that pleased with this move for both O’Hearn and Laureano.
Is it possible the other 29 teams we’re jamming and hacking LADs phones and internet. Relatively quiet.
It would be interesting to compare the odds of winning the WS yesterday vs after all the trades.
Seems Preller is determined to survive the NL gauntlet LAD, PHI, CUB, MIL, NYM and get to the World Series. Could they catch LAD and win the division ???
Trade graded out. Looks reasonable to me with 5 seconds of thought. SD just drafted them so they can draft some more.