The San Diego Padres are expected to be active at the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings as they look to revamp their aging rotation while navigating a tight payroll.
The Athletic senior writer Ken Rosenthal reported that, with multiple starters expected to leave in free agency, the Padres could consider using ace Nick Pivetta in trade talks to acquire younger pitching talent.
AJ Preller might need to get creative with concerns about the Padres payroll.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) December 8, 2025
Could he deal Nick Pivetta to free up some money?@Ken_Rosenthal explores the idea... Pic.twitter.com/hRUwoEY4qc
But with the team still in its championship window, questions remain about whether it makes sense to move Pivetta, their best starter last season, after already losing Dylan Cease to free agency and potentially facing the departure of Michael King.
Padres consider using Pivetta in trade talks amid payroll limits
Last season, Pivetta broke out for San Diego, going 13‑5 over 181.2 innings with a 2.87 ERA. His emergence, along with trusted arms like Cease and King, led Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to go all in, trading the club’s top prospect and three minor‑league pitchers to the Athletics for All-Star closer Mason Miller and starter JP Sears in hopes of boosting the bullpen (and depth).
The move failed to deliver a deep postseason run, as San Diego again exited early in the National League Wild Card round. Now, with Cease already departed and King likely on his way out, Preller appears to be searching for other ways to rebuild pitching depth.
Among the names surfacing in trade-rumor chatter is two-time All-Star second baseman Jake Cronenworth. On a team-friendly seven-year, $80 million deal, Cronenworth offers a steady bat and solid defense. He could be moved if the Padres aim to shore up pitching while staying within budget.
The Padres are listening to offers for Nick Pivetta and Jake Cronenworth, per @dennistlin pic.twitter.com/IjXT8RiFdC
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) December 8, 2025
To keep Pivetta, the Padres could look internally, hoping to get more from a few of their current starters.
San Diego is expected to get Joe Musgrove back after he missed all of the 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Prior to the injury, Musgrove was a reliable arm for the Padres, earning an All-Star nod in 2023 and at least 110 innings pitched in each season since 2021.
The Padres face a delicate balancing act. They must weigh the potential short-term gains from a blockbuster trade against the long-term stability of keeping their proven arms intact.
With Pivetta emerging as a top starter, Musgrove returning from injury and other internal options still developing, Preller’s decisions at the Winter Meetings could define San Diego’s rotation and bullpen for years to come.