The San Diego Padres are gearing up for a pivotal trade deadline. With less than a week to go, the Padres can't afford to miss out on this deadline, especially with their current roster construction.
Due to this sense of urgency, Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report named the Padres as one of the most desperate teams at the MLB trade deadline. San Diego, with their expiring deals and uncertain roster, has to make moves at this deadline.
"Preller, who loves to make big moves," Kelly writes, "needs to get a big bat to upgrade left field. There should also be an urgency to acquire another starting pitcher under control for the 2026 season, given that Cease and King might both depart after this season."
As Kelly mentions, the looming departures of Dylan Cease and Michael King could lead to the Padres acting more urgently and desperately than at previous deadlines. Unfortunately, those two aren't the only issues.
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Robert Suarez is expected to decline his player options and hit free agency, while Luis Arraez is in the final year of his deal and will hit the open market after the season.
To pass the deadline without upgrading in the outfield, at catcher, in the rotation, or even in the bullpen would be a disservice to the team. A.J. Preller will have his hands full this deadline.
It's a big risk to trade good prospects and assets at the deadline, but with a closing window and a bleak future, Preller and the Padres might have to swing for the fences at the 2025 MLB trade deadline.
This scenario is why Kelly names San Diego as one of the most desperate teams heading into the MLB trade deadline.
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