Even after adding Michael King back to their rotation last month, Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic report that the Padres are hoping to add another starter before the season begins. With that being said, however, it appears no deal is particularly imminent. Rosenthal and Sammon go on to write that the club has indicated to multiple players’ agents around the league that they “are not yet ready to move” on the pitching market.
Rosenthal and Sammon suggest that the Padres could be holding off on making an addition in order to clear money off the books with another move, such as a trade of Nick Pivetta. There’s certainly reason to wonder if that might be the case. RosterResource estimates San Diego’s 2026 payroll at $220MM, a modest increase over last year’s $211MM figure. For luxury tax purposes, this year’s $262MM is virtually identical to 2025’s $263MM figure. There’s been no indication to this point that the club is willing to scale it’s payroll up substantially from last year’s numbers, and signing even a mid-rotation free agent like Lucas Giolito or Chris Bassitt could cost somewhere between $15MM and $20MM in terms of annual salary. Dealing Pivetta and his $20.5MM salary could, in theory, allow the Padres to sign a starter in free agency using that money while also recouping either a young starter or help for another area of the roster as part of the return package for Pivetta’s services.
The team shopping Pivetta would certainly be a logical reason for the team to hold off on signing a starter, and the team was known to be discussing a deal with the Mets last month and that Pivetta was one of the players involved in those discussions. Of course, Ramon Laureano, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, and Jeremiah Estrada were among the many names brought up in those negotiations. That deal never ended up coming to fruition, and The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported earlier this week that talks regarding Miller, specifically “went nowhere.” That’s not a shock, given the massive price the Padres paid to acquire Miller just a few months ago. It’s hardly impossible that the Mets and Padres could still get together on a Pivetta trade that doesn’t involve Miller, though, and it’s certainly possible other teams looking for rotation help (such as the Yankees) could be intrigued by the right-hander as well.
Looking to clear salary isn’t the only plausible reason for the team to be waiting on making a rotation addition. Another possibility could be that they’re simply waiting for asking prices to drop. The club signed Pivetta in mid-February last year, with Spring Training fast approaching as players still on the market feeling pressure to sign. That allowed to land him on a creative four-year, $55MM deal that may not have been possible earlier in the winter. Waiting to see how the market develops could be particularly prudent if the Padres are intrigued by a player like Zac Gallen, who falls into a similar tier of the free agent market this year as Pivetta did last year.
It could also make sense if the club is hoping to add a starter from the lower tiers of the market on a relatively small guarantee. As teams fill out their rotations ahead of Spring Training, perhaps stragglers on the market would be especially attracted to the promise of a wide-open lane to secure a rotation spot in San Diego. Bounce-back candidates like Walker Buehler, Erick Fedde, and Jordan Montgomery are among the many pitchers who that sort of approach could make sense for.
If they want to free up cash and get some young players back to stock the shelves in San Diego and the minors trade Tatis to the Tigers. Solves your problems right there.
For Skubal?
Could be a larger deal there involving Skubal but doubtful. The Tigers have tons of near MLB ready prospects and young MLB players.
Call the Cubs. Could get Taillon or Boyd for around 15 million for 1 year. Jed may want to shed some payroll now.
Skubal, McGonigle, Greene and Keith would do it.
Tatis isn’t going to be traded.
No absolutely not. Mr. Ringworm stays.
That’s what they said about Cabrera many years ago. I never thought SD would trade Soto either. No such thing as never in baseball. Doubtful, yeah for sure. Cheers dude.
Preller has said that its never.
But taking Soto as an example, The Padres got 4 MLB players including 2 starting pitchers, a reliever, and a catcher plus a top 100 prospect they immediately turned into Cease for a rental of Soto.
They gave up 3 MLB players (Gore who was the #6 prospect the year before, Abrams who was a top 10 overall prospect the year before, and Voit who was the starting 1B), 2 top 100 prospects (Wood and Hassell), and a pitcher just outside the top 100 in Jarlin Susana for 2 1/3 seasons of Soto and a 2 month rental of Bell.
If the Padres were willing to trade Tatis and he was willing to accept the trade, it would take more than the Padres gave up for Soto. The main reason is that Tatis is still just 27 and is cost controlled on a very team friendly deal through his age 34 season.
How team friendly? Glad you asked. His deal is 82nd in AAV right now and is likely to fall even further down the list once Tucker, Bellinger, and Bichette sign. A 27-year-old, 5-6 WAR player controlled through his age 34 season so the team will never have to take on the worst of any age-related decline for the 82nd highest AAV.
Unless both Skubal and McGonigle are in involved as well as a MLB OF to replace Tatis and at least one more MLB player at a position of need, there is no way the Tigers are a fit.
Tatis contract is about as team-friendly as a Tsunami.
No Abs, that would be a 1973 tsunami
I’m imagining that is a car.
I used to have a 1988 Plymouth Horizon. It was brown.
Yup full no trade clause and 10/5 player after 28.
Trading Tatis makes zero sense.
Trade him, reload with near term prospects or young players and sign starting pitchers or a bat with the money you save. If they would trade Pivetta for the same reason then why not Tatis who makes a ton more and will bring back a haul? Its Preller so you never know.
Because Tatis is on an affordable contract. He and Merril are the youthful faces of the franchise. Zero reason to trade Fernando
8yr/256M on Tatis (age 27-34 seasons)
7yr/260M on Machado (age 34-40 seasons)
7yr/180M on Bogaerts (age 34-40 seasons)
Machado put up similar numbers offensively in ’25 as he did in ’19 so he hasnt started to regress, is playing for career accolades, but is likely too expensive to trade. Bogaerts also unlikely to have any suitors.
There could be an opportunity to get out from under a lot of long term money on Tatis if you weren’t looking for all that much in return.
In a year or two, Tatis too becomes untradeable. Its now or never on the Tatis trade.
Padres can spend but have spent a lot already into the next decade.
First a Tatis trade that isn’t happening would be only for a massive return. Tatis even at his current production contract will be great value until to ends.
Do you see these contracts being handed out? Tatis hasn’t even hit his prime. He’s not going anywhere lol
@No ABS in ’27
“In a year or two, Tatis too becomes untradeable. Its now or never on the Tatis trade.”
So, you’re telling us that a 29 or 30 year old Tatis will regress to the point where at $32M per year AAV, he’s be untradeable? You’re saying that there’s no chance, considering anticipated salary inflation over the next 8 years, that Tatis won’t be considered a BARGAIN at age 34?
Umm, OK. People believe some really weird things, and you’re allowed to go there two. 🙄
It’s OK that fans covet Padres blue-chip ballplayers for their own teams. And it’s also true, that anything is possible, with Preller’s history. However, on this one, I’m gonna put money down that Tatis is gonna be in San Diego for the duration of this contract. Considering the last contract with Machado, if Tatis performs as expected, an extension seems reasonably possible, as well (but hey, things change, like ownership, team make-up, the GM, the city a team plays in – beyond 8-10 years is WAY to long in baseball to predict anything).
Hunter Green and Chase Petty for Tatis 🤡
Now you’re talking 😉
No thank you, Mr. Ice.
Swap out Chase Petty for Chase Burns amd that would be one crazy baseball trade.
Burns has ace upside with ridiculous stuff and Greene is a top 5-10 starter with health.
Padres aren’t trading Tatis, but as a baseball fan that would one blockbuster trade.
No way Greene and Tatis are traded.
Would the Tigers part with say
Colton Keith replaces Tatis and in RF
Josue Briceno top 40 prospect 1B/C
Thayron Liranzo C/1B
Ty Madden sp
Jake Miller sp
Cause only way they trade Tatis Jr is to be overwhelmed by young controllable talent who can step in almost immediately
Padres wouldn’t touch that trade. Colt Keith has been a 1-ish win player the past two seasons. The two hitting prospects didn’t do much in AA even they have upside and the two arms look like back of the rotation types.
The Padres fresh off 3 consecutive attendance records and their first ever consecutive 90 win seasons aren’t trading their biggest talent for that much uncertainty.
But to answer your que, yes I would imagine the Tigers would happily make that trade. To add a top 15 most valuable trade piece in baseball (per Fangraphs July ’25) and not have to part with any of your best assets would be a major coup.
Pasrepapi…Briceno is one of their best assets and is a top 100 prosoect likely to end up at 1B/DH in 2027. Dude can hit. Liranzo, down season and all, is just outside the top 100 and a catcher who is both blocked in Detroit and close to MLB. Keith is still very young and improving. I’d say Hamm and Sears are two arms that would be more attractive. Its fun to “what if” same as we Tigers fans are what iffing about Skubal right now. Highly unlikely they trade him but…Preller is Preller!
It’s would take way way more than that.
How many top, really good, almost certifiably good Padre prospects has Preller traded away. I know that the number is high, because other team fans laugh at him and Padres fans, BECAUSE he trades them away. So, you actually think that Preller is going to trade away an impact player like Tatis, Jr. for the Tiger’s blue chip prospects?
Maybe other GM’s would do that, but Preller just uses them in trades, than reloads the Padres farm system with equally talented prospects.
Nando Tatis Jr. for Bryce Miller; Kade Anderson, Johnny Farmelo, Matt Brash, and Tai Peete.
if you think those prospects overwhelm me, you are mistaken.
Says the arm chair Johnny super scout. Why has no one hired you to a scouting position?
That seems like a trade they should look at. It doesn’t kill Detroit’s chances as there are other prospdcts or current players who filled the roles of those players in Detroit. Interesting idea DroppedBallFour.
Motor City, you don’t understand. It’s imperative that the Padres trade Tatis to the Mariners, you see. It’s just a perfect fit and the two teams share Spring Training Facilities so you see it’s only natural.
Red Sox need an infielder for a SP
Joe Hesketh for Chris Gomez
Point of a Tatis Jr trade would be
1. Acquiring young cost controlled players
2. Reinvesting Tatis Jr salary elsewhere to improve the team
3. Keith has been playing 1B which devalues WAR
He batted .256/.333/.413 last year 107 OPS+ and is under contract for 7 years roughly 62 mill. Him moving to RF would increase WAR if he can play adequate defense there
Briceno is like the #37 overall prospect in baseball and just reach AA
Liranzo is a C who batted .208/.308/.351 in AA but more importantly he’s a catcher which gives padres an option in their system which they desperately need
Madden is a #3-#4 type
Jake Miller just reached AA but performed well in limited sample size in A-AA last year but again gives the padres a close to mlb ready arm like Madden
With money saved in Tatis Padres can go sign a pitcher or two
So padres pick up. a replacement in Keith, prospects at their two weakest positions 1B, C, a top 40 prospect, and a couple pitching prospects.
Yeah Padres totally wouldn’t be interested in that plus using Tatis Jr money to sign a long term rotation options this year or next. Totally lmao
It would take most of your farm to get Tatis. Then you would decline to go to Detroit.
Not really
He plays excellent defense but offensively he’s 25% better than league average
You can get a comparable bat in the 10%- 15% better than league average range
Fill your rotation needs and depth
And reinvest his money elsewhere
And walk away with a top 40 prospect whether that’s Bricelo or even Max Clark who could replace Laureno next year possibly
Keith in RF, Clark potentially, Madden, Miller, and a C prospect in Lirazo plus whatever you buy with Tatis Jr money certainly makes them better over all
Per a group of former and current MLB GMs, it would take 2 players in the majors that are starting with at least 2 years of team control, PLUS 2 top 100 prospects that are MLB ready with one being 60-65 FV, PLUS another prospect that is MLB ready.
Start with an OF to replace Tatis. Riley Greene. Then add a starting pitcher. But wait, they don’t really have a decent one with enough team control, so scratch that and increase the other costs.
Keith is a light hitting 1B that has been roughly league average with the bat and below average with the glove. He is expected to platoon in 2026. He is not a solid piece to trade for Tatis unless they are including McGonigle.
Doesn’t seem like the Tigers have what it would take.
So, let’s back up and try a different approach.
Riley Greene, Kevin McGonigle, Tarik Skubal, and Keith. That might work.
IF Tatis was willing to go to Detroit at all.
Pass on that idea. Carlos Correa, what did he bring back last season?
You comparing Correa to Tatis? Lol
Tatis is young. 27 all season.
Tatis is cost controlled. Through his age 34 season at a very team friendly amount.
He will not be traded.
Next
They can have Bailey falter for free. They just have to provide him a plane ticket to San Diego after spring training
Doesn’t seem wise.
Padres fan here. I’d take him. He’d be a perfect Niebla special.
I’ll buy the ticket. Send him on over.
Bailey Falter is good for like 2 months then goes back to being a 6th starter.
It’s right there in the name!
Enough Bailey’s and I falter, too.
So, Rosenthal’s logic is get rid of a cy young vote getting pitcher so they can sign a worse free agent pitcher? Almost every team is looking for starting pitching and this has been true of the Padres since the end of the season. I am not sure how this is news except for that Rosenthal decided to slap his name on another writer’s article again.
I don’t think either Giolito nor Bassitt are that much worse than Pivetta. But trading Pivetta just to sign someone roughly on par with for a similar amount doesn’t make much sense.
mlb1225
“But trading Pivetta just to sign someone roughly on par with for a similar amount doesn’t make much sense.”
Sure it could
It’s there’s not a bitter, for example, available in free agency that you want, but you could trade Pivetta for them and then replace Pivetta with a free agent, that makes perfect sense
Or, just trade him for minor league players and replace him with a free agent. You get players for the future without sacrificing the present
That’s true, but it really depends on what they get back. If they just trade him for a lottery ticket prospect, they aren’t benefitting much from trading Pivetta then signing someone of a similar caliber. They’d have to get back a legitimate prospect, or someone they can slot onto the 40-man roster right now, at the very least.
What’s not said is who wants Pivetta at that salary? He certainly has value but pitching in SD helped him last year and his inconsistent history suggests to me that teams will want cash kicked in or otherwise why not just sign Giolito who is very similar? No prospects needed. I’m thinking his contract will be similar to what’s left on Pivetta’s deal.
Pivetta definitely loved pitching in SD, but he faired well on the road too:
3.55 er, 1.14 whip, 8.8 k/9.
Remove Coors field from the equation and his road era was 3.01. Not as pretty as his home 2.36 era, but any team would love to get that from a 20m/yr starter. Super consistent too with a 2.88 era in the 1st half and 2.86 in the 2nd half. Money.
mlb
“If they just trade him for a lottery ticket prospect, they aren’t benefitting much from trading Pivetta then signing someone of a similar caliber”
Isn’t having that “lottery ticket” better than not having them?
@mlb1225
Giolito hasn’t had a sub 4 FIP or xERA since 2021. Pivetta had a 3.49 FIP in 2025 with the padres. Giolito is clearly plenty worse. Also, I trust in Pivetta’s durability more to eat innings. I would bet Pivetta has 30-40+ more innings than Giolito in 2026. Being similar money but more aav according to the fa tracker projections makes 0 sense to get him over Pivetta in any universe.
I do like Bassitt signing but not instead of Pivetta. I would like in addition to Pivetta
I didn’t realize how much worse Giolito’s perpherials were than Pivetta’s last year.
Giolito was fine if you watched him pitch. Coming back from an injury, there was the expected rust. He then found his groove and without him Boston does not make the playoffs. Pivetta has a history of being inconsistent. Both have both intrigue and concern attached to them and are more similar than they are different. They could each pitch like a number two or be off the playoff roster.
Pivetta’s history has been erased with a year of Niebla, Musgrove and Darvish around him.
I think 2025 based on these changes are indicative of future success (barring the ever present potential injury for a pitcher). Even if not as high as 2025, not likely to fall back to pre-2025.
Inconsistent guy that turned into a TOR in San Diego or the guy who has not been good since 2021?
If you look closely at Pivetta’s contract it makes perfect sense.
I think it was the padres idea, and it would be based on him having a career year and selling high on that(smart).
They would be trading Pivetta FOR something. People always forget that.
Nobody forgets that but who? Which team is giving up a going good starter for him? Especially since any free agent they could sign to replace him is likely a down grade.
This is why trading him seems very unlikely.
What’s more likely is Preller trades a reliever and or the entire farm for a pitchers not being paid much.
Yeah I think there would likely be an additional team involved. Padres get prospects for Pivetta and ship them off elsewhere for the young starter. Harder to accomplish that from 1 team with Pivetta’s opt out.
Preller would undoubtedly be cooking up some free agent signings using that 20m to add 2 or 3 players.
The Padres idea in theory is to get assets and/or replace Pivetta for another that costs less. By waiting out the market, they hope to get a replacement on another creative deal. Remember however the old AAMCO commercial. You can pay now or PAY LATER. As good of a year as Pivetta had, they have payroll limitations despite a great attendance and fan base.
but that was Zsa-Zsa Gabor in the 1960s, when the Padres payroll was about $32,000 and attendence was in the hundreds, surely the game has changed since then dewey
Das, You have to understand that Rosenthal detests the Padres. I don’t think that’s even a strong enough word for how much he hates them. He would of course want them to get worse.
@DasUno
re: “So, Rosenthal’s logic is get rid of a cy young vote getting pitcher so they can sign a worse free agent pitcher?”
I would expect that many of the trade conversations go like this:
Team GM: “Hey, AJ, we’re looking at [insert ballplayer’s name here]. We’d like to work on a package to include him in the return.”
AJP: “Ok, that’s interesting, what were you thinking?”
I highly doubt, particularly with AJ Preller, that his response is EVER “I’m sorry, he’s off the table right now. Any other thoughts?” That shuts down conversation. That ends negotiations before they start. The most negative thing AJP might say is “Well, you know, we like [insert ballplayer’s name here] a lot, and he’s a good fit on our roster.”
Whatever the other team GM has to say, is “intelligence info” for AJP. As is, whatever AJP says in return to the original proposal. They can toss names back and forth, which INFORMS the other GM of who might be in play. It’s possible that the original player targeted never comes back up in the conversation, because he is actually considered untouchable.
AJP always (!) talks in terms of “match-ups”. I’ve heard him use that term dozens of times in interviews. Match-ups that didn’t work yesterday, might work tomorrow. Matchups between two teams that just didn’t work out, might work out later in the year, by adding another team. Teams don’t run a “GM Bulletin Board” where they post all of their actual requirements and intentions. All of that comes out in these phone calls. The more the GM’s become comfortable, and trust each other, the more productive these phone call likely are.
None of what I’m saying is rocket science. Most of you probably think that this is assumed knowledge. DasUno’s question is reasonable, i.e. what do two teams benefit by trading for a guy like Pivetta, only to receive/send a pitcher with similar level of ability. Trades are not that cut and dried, and the negotiations are the way, the information exchange that teams use to move towards a trade. The “[insert ballplayer’s name here]” could be anyone. Pivetta, Tatis, or, in the case of the Padres, multiple blue-chip prospects that no other GM in his right mind, would trade away (hint: because they are far more risk-adverse than Preller).
The name that GM’s start discussing, are probably not the names involved in 2/3’s of the eventual trades.
Every team wants to add pitching. Fckn duh!!!
Makes sense, they need another SP. King is good, and Pivetta will probably still be solid. Even if he is a regression candidate, he’s probably still a mid-3.00’s ERA type starter. But after that, they have Joe Musgrove, who hasn’t pitched since 2024 due to TJ surgery and hasn’t made 20+ starts since 2022, Randy Vasquez, who had a good ERA last year, but a K-BB% under 5%, a 10th percentile barrel rate, with a xFIP and SIERA around 5.50, and JP Sears, who had an ERA over 5.00 last year and doesn’t have much to suggest he’s better than a mid-4.00 ERA pitcher.
I think the best option for the Padres would sign a mid-rotation starter like Giolito or Bassitt, then take a gamble on Gallen. I don’t think trading Pivetta just to sign one of Giolito and/or Bassitt isa great idea.
I don’t think the Padres have another $40MM to spend on SP’s.
Or even $10m.
A month or so ago Rosenthal said they didn’t have the money to sign King and would have to trade Pivetta or Cronenworth. They signed King and said they still needed to add another starting pitcher. I don’t think Rosenthal knows what he is talking about when it comes to that team.
Don’t know why anyone would want to trade for Tatis – guy is completely overvalued and on his downhill slide.
But, since the Yankees are such a generous organization, concerned with the well-being of other teams in the league, they will take him for a modest return.
You’re welcome.
@Yankee Clipper
Judge and Cole for Tatis and a random player from high A. Done!
Trust me: Judge and Cole are finished. You want the up-and-comers. Future Hall of Fame guys, like Dominguez and Will Warren. But, it’s only because we are so nice.
Fine Volpe straight up since you put it that way.
@Yankee Clipper
I’d agree on Judge. To have some rando catcher in the running for MVP, last year? Clearly, he’s done. Yankees should be trading him for some prospects before he’s just a bench warmer.
@mlb1225
Yeah, I’m just messing around. Not serious.
I don’t fully agree. Sure, he hasn’t been able to replicate his MVP-caliber production from early in his career, but over the last 3 years, he’s still been a guy who gives you a 120-130 OPS+, 25 homers, 30 steals, and top of the line outfield defense. He’s still averaging about 5 fWAR/150 games and doesn’t make more than $25 million until 2028 and just turned 27.
Mlb1225: if that response was to me, I was just messing around and being sarcastic. Tatis is a great player, imo, and I’d love to have a guy of his caliber on the Yankees.
Then I misunderstood what you were saying. Oh well.
Andujar and Frazier in the package or bust!
@Acoss1331
Giving up far too many future Hall of Famers.
Had me in the first half, not gonna lie
Man..I forgot about Montgomery. Wouldn’t mind the Padres signing him to a two year, prove it deal if healthy.
This dude maybe looking at a minor league deal. If not a padres special one year with an opt
Preller will probably sign him for something like a 10-12m guarantee. It will be a 3 year deal with both player and team options built in that is backloaded so in year 1 he’ll make 2m. After 2026 he will have the option of opting in for the final 2 years for a total 8-10m guarantee. The Padres could override that by excercising a 2/30m team option.
He’ll get an 8 figure guarantee, the Padres will get a 2.5 win starter for 2m in 2026, Ruben Niebla will get another feather in the cap, and Montgomery will be somewhere else in 2027 a rebounded man, when both team and player decline their respective options.
It might not be the exact terms, or even the right pitcher, and probably not even grasping the full level of complexity, but something of the sort.
Preller is the only one who could sign a pitcher to consecutive 4 and then 3 year contacts and have the pitcher leave as a free agent having pitched 2 seasons for the team.
This article was unnecessary…
It’s a rumors website….
Your take could apply to a large majority of articles but it’s a rumors website and there are slow days so, thanks to the crew for outing it out there.
Like Seinfield, the Ken Rosenthal show is a show about nothing, especially an ariticle reading “Padres interested in (insert players xyz)” – those can best be ignored. AJ Preller doesn’t work that way. How many acquisitions by Preller in the past 5 years were heavily rumored by Rosenthal or by MLBTR?
Of course, like many teams the Pads are interested in adding pitching, and like most active GMs they regularly check in on players (both pitchers and position players). And no doubt a FA signing or two, and a trade or two, are coming to complete the Padres roster. Until that happens, enjoy the nothing.
“How many acquisitions by Preller in the past 5 years were heavily rumored by Rosenthal or by MLBTR?”
Zero. (For the curious reader, not necessarily you Brewski!)
Brew, exactly! Preller’s move always come out of nowhere and if there are rumors of a potential deal that is basically a guarantee it’s not happening.
Only Soto to the Yankees was talked about a ton before it happened. Can’t think of another example of having a heads up, which is saying something since no one makes more moves than Preĺler.
Ignore him, folks. Brew is always a grumpy pessimist in January. 🤣
Read the baseball “analysts” instead, and hang on their every word. It’s more fun during slow Januarys. 🙄😏 (Plus, we get to attack them when nothing actually happens. Gotta have someone to blame, right?)
The bow tie is the state flower of January
When the Padres signed King, something the Bowtie said was absolutely not happening because the Padres were supposedly broke and instead going to trade Pivetta, Preller said the team would be adding a SP and a bat. This is not news.
Buehler? Buehler? Buehler?
AI informs me that the surname Buehler means “Hill Dweller” — Walker could buy a house out by Torrey Pines, play some golf with El Tigre and sun his white keister at Black’s Beach.
Trading Pivetta makes no sense when they are looking to add a starter.
They are either going to wait out the market or trade for a starter. You don’t trade Pivetta so you can sign Giolito.
Pivetta’s value is limited by his opt out. He isn’t gonna bring back some young controllable higher upside starter. They aren’t trading him for prospects.
Been a minute since we have had a padres are broke and need to shed some money article. Was well over due. At least this article actually added some other alternatives that make sense but left out the trade market.
It CAN make sense if the Padres and their pitching coach believe, let’s say, Gallen coming off a bad year can produce a similar year as Pivetta (coming off a good year) and can be signed for a similar price as Pivetta.
Then if Preller can trade Pivetta for, say, Sproat and Vientos, SD comes out ahead of where they are now.
That would be ballsy given how good one looked last year and how bad the other did
One year of Pivetta isn’t going to bring back Sproat. Vientos, sure.
Brandon Sproat isn’t even a top 100 prospect per MLB today. Him and Vientos isn’t some monster haul for a starter making 20m fresh off finishing 7th in the NL Cy Young race. He was 5th in the NL per bWAR and 7th per fWAR.
The Mets hug prospects and I have no idea if Preller would even make that deal, Vientos alone definitely wouldn’t do it, fresh off a negative bWAR season.
So you are saying the Padres secretly believe Pivetta will suck in 2026 and that Gallen will be the next Pivetta. Shouldn’t there be a rim shot after a joke like that?
Bro shouldn’t have traded Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert then.
Those guys would be good back of the rotation guys right. Though Fermin is a sold catcher and they needed one. Prob an overpay for him though.
It was the “overpay” time of year ….
The only one who can really be blamed for the overpay, was Campusano. If he’d done the catcher thing better, the Pads would have HAD their starting catcher. Failed prospects result in later overpays. On the opposite end, Buying “sure things” to fill positions, can keep worthy ballplayers stuck in the minors for 5 years (re: Ty France), and eventually ruin their careers. Campu is somewhere in between, right now. I can’t tell if his poor development is on the Padres failing to promote at the right time, or his own lack of talent or stubbornness.
Interesting thing is that Shildt refused to play Campusano even though Preller wanted him called up and Preller has now said he will definitely be in the mix.
Catchers with a 2+ WAR are more valuable than back of the rotation starters.
Zack Littell 2 years, 24 million easy peasy.
Yeah Zach Littell is really good. That contract looks about right. I wouldn’t mind him on the Yankees. Seriously enjoy Imai this season.
Littell has given up OPS’ of .722, .731, & .727 the past three years. The last of which was exactly mlb average. His 17.1% k-rate in 2025 was well below league average (22.7%).
Solid arm but I doubt he’s high up on Preller’s wish list of the next starter to sign on a creative contract.
he also has an elite bb%. incredible command
I was thinking about signing Littell until we got Imai I do think the Yankees should aim higher than Littell though.
I think Nick Martinez at 2/18 or a bit more, but with season one being under $10 million, with an opt out after season 1 is a good fit.
Is Johnny Abacus available?
Why does everyone think you should trade a guy after he had a career year because you will get SO MUCH MORE back for him? Like nobody else realizes it was a career year? Yeesh.
They have already ruled that out.
I’d like to see the Padres wear brown short shorts this season. Maybe even Speedos.
You just want to see Adcock pitch in a speedo.
I can call a locksmith if that closet door is jammed up, Ranger!
Cubs have extra, what do the Pads have to offer?
For who? It’s not like each pitcher has the same value
We have Berrios if you want lol
We already have California Berrios, unless yours are free.
I thought you left those out in the sun and they became a singing novelty act.
Jose Quintana on a one year deal seems like a good option.
So they wanna add to the rotation and they also wanna trade Nick Pivetta? Unless they think Pivetta is going to suck next year that makes ZERO sense.
It would only make sense if all along they traded for him assuming he was going to suck, but then because he didn’t, they could double down on him sucking and trade him now, before he defies the original sucking hypothesis before he has another great season, that way they’re not proven wrong twice. See? Is it just Ken Rosenthal and I who understand this?
The Padres never traded for Nick Pivetta.
Worm, think Brew’s comment went over your head.
“Another possibility could be that they’re simply waiting for asking prices to drop.”
Yes, it’s that.
They’re not trading Pivetta so they can free up money to add a starting pitcher. Derp.
Littell is the guy in my opinion. If the Pads can get him on a decent deal they would have King, Pivetta, Musgrove, and Littell followed by some combination of Vazquez, Sears, Hoeing and Mendez battling for the 5th spot. Not an elite rotation, but with that bullpen, it might be enough.
Better than last years. The pen is so good they really don’t need much from the starters.
I wouldn’t be so sure the pen will be as good as it’s been.
First, while you have Miller all year, you don’t have Suarez. So that’s at least a half season of excellence you’re missing.
Second, there’s no telling what you’ll get from Jason Adam coming off a serious injury at age 34.
Third, everyone knows relief pitching is extremely volatile.
And lastly, I wouldn’t underestimate the loss of Mike Schildt, who knew how to use a bullpen to a tee. Stammen is an unknown, and even if he’s a former reliever, I wouldn’t bet he’ll utilize his bullpen as effectively as a successful experienced manager.
Or…
Miller > Suarez
Got miller last year and Adam went down right after. All reports are Adam will be back by the start of the year or a week or so afterwards.
There is as good of chance they are better than last years as there is they aren’t.
I would think the Padres keeping Niebla around will help with bullpen management. And to be honest, no one has a firm grasp on how the Stammen hiring is going to affect the team, let alone the bullpen.
And not to pile on Shildt, but in the most important game of the year, game 3 of the WC, I thought his bullpen management left something to be desired.
Miller >> Suarez
Adam is just one of 4 setup men. Morejon, Estrada, Morgan, and Adam is a devastating group to have behind Miller.
The Padres retained Niebla and Stammen was a former reliever. The bullpen is in excellent shape and is expected to be in the top 3 in MLB in 2026.
Hunter Greene and Hector Rodriguez for Jackson Merrill
Nola, Painter, Casty, some cash for Tatis lol
Worst offer ever. Next!
Everybody hates Tati, desperately wants Tati
This is basically Painter for Tatis. It’s not happening.
My brother in Christ…
I heard an interesting conversation about potential trade packages for Tatis on Steve Phillips show a while back. He had a former GM from MLB Network and a current POBO on the show with him and Phillips is a former GM. The outline of a trade package they came up with that could work for the Padres was much more than they gave up for 2+ years of Soto.
They came to the conclusion that it would take 2 MLB players that start with 2-4 years of team control, with at least one being a starting pitcher. On top of that 2 Top 100 prospects that are MLB ready with one being 60-65 FV and at least one more prospect that is close to MLB ready.
One of the reasons they quoted for a package of players that high was the locked in cost for Tatis that was so low in AAV compared to the deals that players like Alonso and Schwarber had received and what Tucker, Bellinger, Bichette, and Bregman were asking for. That was before we knew that Bregman would get $35 million AAV with no deferrals.
Preller has said that trades for Tatis are not being entertained, but let’s use Phillips outline and the Mets as an example.
Start with Baty and Alvarez. Then add McLean as the 60 FV prospect and Sproat, even though he is outside the Top 100. Then a prospect like Ross that is MLB ready but is strictly a reliever.
Yeah, trading for Tatis would sting more than just a little.
Web- here is the thing. While the padres enjoy Tatis at an aav of 24m, when traded the team acquiring him gets his current contract and aav which is more like 32m per. Still good but not close to what the padres have him for.
He is worth a lot but he would need to go out and put up a 8-9 war season to really be worth a massive haul. There is zero chance the Mets would ever do that trade for Tatis. Prob more like Senga, Benge Tong, Williams. Even that maybe a stretch.
they should keep their radio jobs.
Trade Tatis to the Dodgers for a couple young starting pitchers, maybe an OF prospect. Solves Padres pitching and salary cap issues. Solves Dodgers need for a starting outfield bat.
You jest.
Troll.
You can’t be serious ! first off, there is no official MLB designation called “untradeable.” – Tatis has a full no‑trade clause, meaning he can block any trade, and he probably would veto any trade offer. if he doesn’t want to go, he doesn’t go. (2) This is true right now and remains true through the entire contract unless he voluntarily waives the clause. Which I’m sure you won’t see that happen. (3) Even he was to be persuaded to accept a trade, then the club he is traded to would have to being willing to take on his enormous Contract, I don’t think too many teams would do it – Ohtani has a bigger Contract YES but he had his money deferred $68 million of his $70 million a year of his contract is deferred money and Ohtani doesn’t have a full NTC in his contract there is a possibility for the Dodgers to trade him if they so desired.
So to even think Tatis Jr. is valid “Trade Bait” is unrealistic in my eyes – I think what we are seeing is just how valuable Tatis Jr. is to the Padres and every team are willing to mortgage the farm to get him to their team or someone like him.
Any team would gladly take on Tatis’ contract. The Padres have said this offseason that they will not entertain trade offers for Tatis. 27-year-old, 5-6 WAR players making only $24 million AAV are an extreme bargain.
And again, they can toss Tatis Jr. name around all they want. But the person who would have the final say about it will be Tatis Jr. and I assure you he’s NOT going to go anywhere.
Plus, team(s) that are in any financial status that could handle his contract probably couldn’t entice Tatis to approve his trade.
They want to add a pitcher, but need to free up money by trading a pitcher.
Oh really?
Call the jays for Berrios
Could happen, and shouldn’t take much in terms of acquisition costs.
Laureani to KC for starting pitching and a prospect is a win-win for both sides.
No. Padres are in win now mode so no prospects unless they are MLB ready and at top of the organization. Padres have no one strong behind Laureano so he won’t be traded.
Senga for Laureano and Estrada
Padres say no even if the Mets pay for his full two years of his salary
true
A Senga trade is going to be for a bad contract swap like the Astros Christian Walker. No way you get one, let alone both for Senga.
No.
How about Senga and $10 million for Peralta and Ornelas? Senga and Peralta have about the same number of innings pitched and same FIP the past 2 seasons.
Web- not sure if even do that. The prob with Senga is he seems to need a 6 man rotation and even then gets hurt.
Why trade Pivetta (who had a good year), then turn around a spend on a SP replacement.
They wouldn’t. Colorado on the other hand…
Toronto has Berrios. What ya got 😂
Xander, straight up.
You really need to quit smoking crack and try some “Maui Wowie” you just might seeing the reality of things.
Unrealistic – Tatis, Laureano, Machado and possibly Pivetta – being traded in 2026
Realistic – Tatis, Laureano and the other two remaining with the Padres, and me smoking another joint of “Maui Wowie” See ya
Enter the convo:
philly p walker, t
Lauriano to the Royals for Bubic. Both are coming off injuries. They both are receiving similar pay. Their WAR is similar. They are both becoming free agents at the end of 26′ and they both fill a need for the other team. Seems like a win win.
Prob in the padres would be trading for a need to only create another need. The padres almost need a bat as bat as another starter. If they did this they would need 2 bats.
There are more starters out there than bats.
Laureano broke a finger so his injury isn’t a real concern. Bubic’s injuries are more concerning.
While the deal on paper looks like an even one it doesn’t really solve the Padres needs.
Preller said that they were looking to add another SP in the press conference announcing King’s signing. Must be a slow news day or Rosenthal just hates his bowtie not being in the news since he blew it so badly on the Bregman signing.
Padres are not trading Pivetta. They are not trading Laureano. They are not trading any of the players that are starters. The only players that might be traded are relievers or prospects and relievers are not at the top of his list to trade. He told us weeks ago that the Padres did not have a set budget and that he was free to sign whoever he felt was a fit. No matter what garbage the Bowtie wants to try to feed people, the Padres have said clearly that they don’t have to clear payroll to add players.
According to what Preller has said it’s far more likely that the Padres sign a veteran FA and not one with a QO attached.
Deeds how can you get basic facts like payroll numbers wrong and still have a job. The Padres OFFICIAL CBT numbers were $270,351,396. Not only do you get basic facts like that wrong, but your opinions are also wrong as well. Always.
Since I am not ALLOWED to link to the article from the AP that THIS WEBSITE linked to with the official CBT numbers, you will have to actually READ the website you work for.
Preller’s MO has been to wait out the starter’s market or get creative with signings. Wacha and Pivetta both signed February deals and they pounced on Lugo. I’d expect something similar here, although I do think Adcock has the chance to surprise.
My sleeper to start is Hoeing. Dude has filth. To be completely transparent, I also think that of Morejon but the “idea” of him starting again has basically been continually shot down. We’ll see!
2024 hoeing yes but after 2025 don’t think we will see that. I really have no idea what they will do with hoeing. Was either hurt or stuck in the minors all year.
Hurt. Should be back strong, and an under the radar sleeper imo. Cheers Simms! 🤙🏽
the pen could use a solid if not elite long-reliever hope he’s back for that role. After the injury not sure he can be stretched out for SPing without great risk?
Since we’re talking. Word is Morejon wants to stick with RP role given past SP injury woes.
And also since I have both of your highly respected ears (you and Simm, 4 ears total), what about Niebla turning Triston McKinzie into comeback player of the post-Covid era? Apparently in private he’s throwing like it’s 2022 again.
The Beanpole needs a slight velo uptick before I’m 100% onboard, but good call Brewski!
I just heard Ben (from Ben and Woods) mention that Niebla told him Sears is a DAWG. He has him working on a new pitch. I think the bottom of our rotation that everyone has been saying is terrible might be sneaky good. If Sears is a decent pitcher and Vasquez takes a step up.
I don’t expect anything from Vasquez but if he can keep beating his DIPS for 5 innings I’ll take it. Still like the upside of Sears at the back of the rotation.
For sure, guy. 2 names that will “”be there””… decent depth starting to materialize but can we get one more mid-ish guy? I mean, I really really want Framber… but I’ll settle?!?
Could definitely use a #3 guy but I don’t think that’s really in the cards. Interested to see how Gallen’s market develops, maybe there’s an opportunity for a short-term deal with opt-outs.
One of Buehler, Bassitt, Nestor, Mad Max, Gallen or Framber would make me happy. (My wishlist in reverse order)
If you hate us so much, why are you even here? Lmao
Oh yeah, we all remember that clown. Did he disappear? Rumor has it he wasn’t even a Padre fan, but a Yank. Go figure haha 🍻
I’ll be honest- it was embarrassing, especially when he was tossing Tony’s name into it. Good riddance… in an online way haha. Hope he’s well for sure. Aloha 🤙🏽
Padres fans. A Q?
Duran, Early, and Yoshida + $16-18 million
For
Laureano, Cronenworth, Peralta and that kid Alvarez your #1 signing in last year’s intl FA.
We need a RHB, a 2B if Mayer is going to play 3B, and a lefty out of the pen.
Padres get a top LF and a good starting pitching prospect in Early but have to take on half of Yoshida’s deal.
I’ll start this retort by saying Alvarez was the 3rd highest ranked Padre signee from that 2025 International class. 2 SSs were more highly ranked, although I might suggest all 3 would be off the table in this swap.
For my Padres, the immediate concern is who plays an All-Star & GG-level 2B with Cronie gone? This significantly weakens the lineup; not anything Preller wants to do right now (or besides Soto- ever, really.) Sure, Duran is an upgrade over Laureano in that he’s more controllable with higher upside, but the 2026 results should be “fairly” similar from a LF and WAR/OPS+ angle. Swapping a crowded ‘pen lefty for a “tantalizing” arm is no problem. Yoshida is nothing more than a rotatable platoon DH with Campusano at this point, but an OF of Duran, Merrill and Tatis would be amongst the game’s best for Duran’s couple years here!
If this trade is consumated “as is” sans Alvarez, then my gut says Preller tries to bring back Arraez for 2B and rolls with that OF. Could happen, but not with Alvarez. Think more lotto ticket type if Boston needs a sweetener to this 3 for 3… cheers bub! 🍻
Gwynning, thanks for the reply. That was a trade proposal on a radio station here. Heard it driving into Boston yesterday.
Duran was a 4.7 WAR player coming off an 8.7 WAR in 2024 vs 3.8 for Laureano coming off 1.3 WAR in 2024 and 1.7 WAR in 2023. His age 30 season seems like an outlier, not the new norm. We had heard the rumors on here that the Padres were interested in Duran last year.
I agree about Yoshida and the 3 guys that were discussing this on the radio said that including him was a salary dump for the Red Sox. They also brought up that Sheets would move to 1B full time. They didn’t really talk about what that would do to the Padres at 2B. They are on Boston radio after all. They were just considering what would be good for us.
I have read a lot about Arraez and his “misuse” last season. 16 sac bunt attempts by a guy that hit at a .317 average seems extreme and counter productive. But would Padres fans want him back? Especially at 2B?
Not familiar enough with Padres farm. Who would be a pitching lottery ticket prospect to include in place of Alvarez. By the way, I meant to say top intl FA pitching signing.
Thanks again. You are always level headed and knowledgable and it’s a pleasure to read your takes.