Quote from fenn68 on July 26, 2026, 8:06 am

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 26, 2026, 5:50 am

Connolly Early traded to the Nationals for Curtis Mead.

Well there’s a good controllable young Starter that we either weren’t interested in or AJ has a different plan cause that seems like a steal for the Nats.

More likely the RedSox saw nothing they wanted from the Padres. They got a 25 year old ML 1B/3B getting paid league minimum and controlled for four more years. Hitting above league average this season. RedSox wanted a bat for 2026.

Interestingly, Early is currently on the IL with an elbow injury. Maybe something the Padres did not want to deal with now even if they had a trade chip for Boston.

 

Quote from Randy Manese on July 26, 2026, 10:56 am

Unless we were willing to part with Jackson Merrill, don't see any player we would give up and the Red Sox would take for Early.  We just don't have many arrows in our quiver to make trades happen no matter how tempting a pitcher on another team looks.  It takes two teams to agree and Preller is going to have to spin a lot of straw into gold to get any meaningful trade deadline trades done, particularly for pitching and especially for controllable pitching.

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 26, 2026, 4:31 pm

Are we really gonna win just enough games the last week before the deadline to make the decision of what to do even harder?

Probably

My guess is we neither sell nor buy but just make a few strategic moves to improve for this year and next.

But the more we win the less chance we move King and my guess is we weren’t gonna move Miller anyway.Was always gonna take a huge overpay and unless a contender loses their Closer this week I don’t think it happens.

And I’m more than OK with that.

 

 

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 27, 2026, 11:00 am

I know the Yankees want Miller but they need a RH bat also....wonder what we could get back for Morejon & France?

Lagrange?

More?

 

 

Quote from fenn68 on July 27, 2026, 12:47 pm

Quote from MrPadre19 on July 27, 2026, 11:00 am

I know the Yankees want Miller but they need a RH bat also....wonder what we could get back for Morejon & France?

Lagrange?

More?

 

 

Less ... not going to get a top 100 prospect for two "rentals" ... one a set-up RP and one a part-time 1B/DH.

NYY are not desperate ... firmly the top WC slot and only three game behind TB for the AL East.

Quote from fenn68 on July 27, 2026, 2:47 pm

Seattle apparently is dangling Luis Castillo and Emerson Hancock out in the market in dire need for SP.

Castillo is on a big contract (they suggest they will eat "some") but has not been great this season and under contract for 2028. He does give innings but still a below average ERA.

Hancock would be a good get at age 27 with four more years of control. Was not all that good in 2024 or 2025 but his 2026 in 16 starts is a very good 3.16 ERA and going 105 innings ... so giving innings.

Seattle in the thick of a race for AL West and Wild Card wants ML players for upgrades ... that is the problem for the Padres. Primarily a RHH (not a lot of quality on the market) and secondary additional support for a strong pen.

I guess a Preller special big deal where maybe France (rental) and Rodriguez (or another plus RP) bundled with some prospects (decent but not elite types). Seattle gets immediate help and some level of future assets. Padres get a long control SP who pitches innings with some uncertainty if he is the 2026 Hancock or the previous version?

However, if the Padres seem themselves as contenders, can they afford to lose offense and trade France? (would be easier if Andujar is returning and Laureano was not done for the season).

Forget the individual players ... would France / ML RP win the Padres more games than a legit SP for the rest of 2026? Not an easy call if winning (not player stats) is the criteria.

 

Quote from Jeremy Hill on July 27, 2026, 6:46 pm

Barring a disastrous showing in these last games before the deadline I fully expect AJ to be at least a modest buyer. I think he has to be looking to add multiple arms. A starter would seem to be the bare minimum. I also think he looks for an outfielder. With a weak system and a team that hasn't inspired much confidence I would hope he avoids rentals with a high acquisition cost.

The sale is reportedly getting closer to being finalized. Hopefully that means there's a little extra financial wiggle room to work with. I can think of a few guys like Castillo with inflated contracts that could help without costing us much prospect wise if we can take on at least some of the money.

Of course with AJ at the helm you never know what's going to happen. I'm expecting modest additions. It also wouldn't surprise me if he puts Salas in play and pulls off another huge move no one sees coming.

Quote from ultratvfan on July 27, 2026, 8:36 pm

The Padres should not trade Morejon, Adam, or Miller. Not even Matsui. The Padres just moved up to 1.5 games back in the wild card on their day off because the Dbacks lost.

Quote from fenn68 on July 28, 2026, 3:57 am

Hard to evaluate the Padres at this trade deadline.

At this point being this close to a playoff slot have little doubt Preller, ownership will want to be buyers ... but wanting does not always turn into action because of market forces.

First, there are a lot of teams still in contention ... limiting the sellers (especially if looking for pitching that is good) and most contenders want to add to pitching. Supply and demand pushes the trade price up.

Second, Padres (except for Salas) has one of the poorest farm system overall and their better prospects are at the A/A+ level ... and they are not Top 100 types. Not the profile of trade chips that can yield much in return (except a rental). Most other buyers could outbid the Padres.

Third, we don't know how the Padres truly view the potential returns (timing, effectiveness) of Pivetta, Musgrove, Giolito, Estrada, Morgan. Can they really land anyone in a trade (at a fair price) that they are confident will be better than the returnees? If these guy return and they trade for adds ... have to shed some current arms since few can be optioned. Probably should also consider Andujar returning as a RHH to lengthened the line-up / provide bench support minimizing the need for adding bat.

I guess it is just to generate debate by the "analysts" but commentary that the Padres need to add a couple of SP and an upgrade bat or two is just incomplete (and that is frustrating) since the conveniently don't asses the players available, the Padres trade chips, and the need for upgrades not just bodies. Padres could add two SP but like other teams' version of Canning or Marquez at a higher cost. Poor analysis.

All this sort of sets up for "stand pat" ... not because the want to but have little choice.

I guess I could see a "minor" move for a bench bat even if Andujar is returning ... but harder to see any move on pitching UNLESS Preller goes for the ONE bigger move for a SP utilizing multiple better prospects and at least one better player off the ML roster.

Side: with no return time table for Adam (and he is a FA after the season) ... not tradable ... but if healthy can be an late inning RP ... the Padres' view on him may be as important as the returns of Estrada and Morgan. Does impact the trade scenarios.

I will be surprised on every move by the Padres.