Padres Might Have To Get Creative To Address Needs With Expiring Contracts
The San Diego Padres just dipped under the luxury tax threshold this season, but with their payroll projected by Fangraphs to land in the second tier, they face a 12% surcharge on their payroll next season. This makes Alden Gonzalez of ESPN believe that the Padres might have to do some flipping to address their needs at the trade deadline.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 18: Dylan Cease #84 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 18, 2025 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 18: Dylan Cease #84 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 18, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Photo byThe Padres have three specific needs: a left fielder, a catcher, and an end-of-rotation starter. With little wiggle room on the payroll and after taking significant hits to their farm system in trades the last few seasons, they may have to flip major league assets for the pieces they need.
The Padres have a couple of valuable players who could be free agents after the season, including starting pitcher Dylan Cease. Cease is set to become a free agent this offseason and has had the season that he had hoped for.
While he is striking out more batters per nine innings than last season, he has given up more runs and has seen his ERA grow by a run from last year. If the Padres do not envision themselves extending Cease, another team could be interested in the former Cy Young candidate.
Luis Arráez is also a pending free agent, and while he is still hitting for a high average, his bat has taken a step backward this season. If Padres general manager AJ Preller needs to, he could use Arráez as a chip to get the pieces that he needs to contend for the National League pennant.
With the deadline looming and the Padres holding a playoff spot, Preller is likely to wheel and deal to put the finishing touches on his championship contender.
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