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2026 Padre Season
#291 · July 25, 2026, 7:00 am
Quote from MrPadre19 on July 25, 2026, 4:54 amOf all seasons this is looking like one where he will only make deals that include players with control beyond this season. Trading for rentals make zero sense at this point.
Does he have the trade assets to get quality controllable beyond 2026?
I guess if conceding 2026 (Padres thinking not mine) ... Morejon and France might get some decent return with 2027 (and beyond) control. Maybe take a gamble on a player the Padres control forward for a bigger need player controlled forward ... with a deep pen maybe use and Estrada or Rodriguez for an upgrade in maybe LF for the next few years?
Much harder calls if the Padres are not conceding ... given this staff can you really deal a RP for the future?
I guess not convinced ... for the level of Padre trade chips ... Preller can make significant deals for 2026 (or even 2027) given what should be a very limited pool of players available for trade and a large pool of teams (with better trade chips) bidding for them.
If the Padres are not throwing in the towel ... we may see a much more of a "stand pat" look with some minor "rental" deals using lesser prospects. Maybe more Refugio types. Only if they concede ... unleashing some of the better current roster players for long control types comes into play ... assuming other teams are interested enough to give quality in return.
I guess if looking at 2027 and beyond ... this trade deadline is not the only route for improvement. Nov this year has "some time" before the CBA expires to address FA or trades and with the new owners in place by then a clear budget and strategy. Once the lockout is over and the new CBA is in place there will be mad scramble for FA and, maybe, bargains can be land as player do want to actually make some money in 2027. Should see a lot of one year, low cost deals at that point just to get the players to the winter FA of 2027-28.
A lot of moving parts ... a lot of unknowns ... as little will be "as usual".
#292 · July 26, 2026, 3:52 am
Another potential wrinkle for trade deadline moves could be the lockout funding.
As usual in pre-lockout planning teams (players, MLBPA) are trying to bank more money as a strike fund. Teams will not be paying players, some costs associated with games, ballpark BUT they still are paying to run a front office, scouting, a minor league system, and have to continue to pay on loans while not getting money from attendance, souvenirs, and some lost of media monies. Net the will run a deficit during the lockout.
30 teams will have different motivations during the trade deadline ... at one end likely CASH RICH teams (e.g. LAD) approach dealing as business as usual and should have no issue adding payroll (take on a big contract). The question becomes how the CASH POOR teams deal. IF a contender ... do you only target adds currently on low end contracts and stay away from the high end contracts? IF a non contender ... do you make every effort to trade a high end contracts (taking lesser prospects in return just to move payroll)?
We have no idea how ownership of the Padres is dealing with 2026 payroll. IF they are giving Preller the green light to add a significant amount (maybe $10MM ... 1/3 of a $30MM annual) ... and considering the Padres have little in prospect trade chips ... could Preller swing a deal or two using "fringe" prospects and taking on payroll while other buyers are staying out of larger payroll adds?
Don't have any specific players in mind but have to think the likes of KC, CINN, COLO, A's would clearly want to jettison payroll. Probably every team as they fall out of contention in the next week or even if on the fringe do a dual buy / sell strategy.
Might be an interesting advantage for Preller if ownership frees up some 2026 payroll.
Possibly a reunion with either Wacha (35) or Lugo (37) from KC. Both are older on larger contracts and KC is not a cash rich team. From the Padres perspective that both have made all their starts (21) and pitched deep into games ... Wacha around 6 innings per start (ERA 3.50ish) and Lugo just below 6 inning per start (ERA 4.30ish). Both the innings and ERA would be major upgrades over the current SP crop.
Lugo would cost a plus $7MM this season and plus $21MM next (reduced by the lockout). Wacha would cost a plus $6MM this season and a plus $14MM next. Just how eager would KC to move the high cost / aging players with a future commitment? What other teams would move on them? Does Preller have the payroll flexibility?
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Randy Manese
#293 · July 26, 2026, 5:09 am
I never said they would be “significant” deals.
But,for the right controllable player,there’s no reason he couldn’t add a prospect to a guy like Morejon to get a better player back.
I realize we don’t have too many of those…and I’d prefer he didn’t….but it’s Preller so……🤷🏻♂️
#294 · July 26, 2026, 8:33 am
Have little doubt Preller would use Padre prospects (except maybe Salas) for a player he coveted ... be it by themselves or added to someone such as Morejon. Might have to on the Padre rentals to be since not seeing any teams really eager to move a better prospect for two months of any Padre FA to be and only contenders would be interested at all so not likely to get someone to help 2026.
Unless the Padres tank in the next 7 games .... hard not to see them as buyers ... and that translates most likely to holding their FA to be and use the prospects for adds ... if they can find any players on the market on teams that want the Padre prospects more than others.
Preller will try for better but just may not have the ammo.
I guess one gambit (and they should know better on the players' health) is to believe their potential return of Pivetta, Giolito, Musgrove in Aug will upgrade the SP with the same or better outcome than any trade deadline add .... Estrada, Morgan, and Adam returning to the pen in August will improve RP with strong fresher arms. Assume this team can stay "close" and starting in late August the reinforcements will take them over the top.
On the offense, Andujar is due back and he was one of the better hitters to add some depth.
Maybe for Preller it is a case of taking a good deal if it is there but not push (over pay) for anyone.
#295 · July 26, 2026, 10:32 am
Someone to keep an eye on later in the season ... RP veteran Jose LeClerc.
Padres signed him while injured early this year ... let him recover and now working up the minors in rehab stints ... and doing well. Last year was ineffective but his performances in 2022 and 2023 were outstanding (big K%) / low ERA. 2024 was less effective but sill good. Still only 32.
If nothing else has the potential to be a veteran quality insurance piece for the pen if injuries or some RP fade. However, depending how the Padres view his current status, he might allow Preller at the trade deadline deal off a current Padre RP for an upgrade at another position.
Nice under the radar player that has the veteran talent to potentially make a real impact in the stretch run.
#296 · August 1, 2026, 4:11 pm
Any news on Samad Taylor?
#298 · August 3, 2026, 4:15 pm
With the adds of Mize and Ray…..who’s roster spots do they take?
#299 · August 3, 2026, 5:16 pm
I would think that either Sears or Hart will be optioned and Canning either gets DFAd or comes down with a phantom injury.
