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The belief in the San Diego Padres’ season within the organization rests on how the team plays over the next 10 days against the Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants.
The Padres are three games under .500 and sit four games back from the final National League wild card spot entering play Friday, needing to jump five teams to obtain a spot. That’s going to be difficult in a short period of time, and while crazier things have happened, it’s probably unlikely that it happens.
That doesn’t mean it can’t happen after the Aug. 3 trade deadline, but general manager A.J. Preller reportedly needs a sign to become buyers and not sellers this year. Would a 6-3 stretch getting them back to .500 convince Preller?
It’s hard to say – it’s hard to dictate how good your team will be down the stretch in a short time frame unless the team is obviously not in contention ahead of the deadline, but I doubt the team sells if their record is 56-56. More than likely, they soft buy or stand pat rather than sell leverage relievers like Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel went over the landscape of each team’s farm system, breaking down untouchables, prospects to watch if going all-in and biggest need if acquiring prospects ahead of the deadline. San Diego’s farm system is starting to recover after the Miller trade, but it’s still thin.
McDaniel highlighted top prospect, catcher Ethan Salas (who is the only untouchable), as well as recently drafted first-round pitchers Coleman Borthwick, Kruz Schoolcraft (Padres No. 3 prospect) and Kash Mayfield (No. 2), and shortstop Elliot Lascelles being on the rise in the system.
However, Schoolcraft and Mayfield were mentioned among other prospects that could be on the move if the Padres are in position to buy.
“Since the 2026 draftees can't be traded, it's a bit of a limited bunch,” McDaniel wrote Friday. “Schoolcraft has had issues with strikes this year, Mayfield's stuff is more good than great and the rest of the system is either riskier long shots or likely relievers. RHP Bryan Balzer, OF Ryan Wideman, RHP Tucker Musgrove and SS Joniel Hernandez have the most upside of that group.”
Balzer (No. 7), Wideman (No. 6), Musgrove (No. 8) and Hernandez (No. 9) are all in San Diego’s top 10 that could be enticing for sellers around the league.
If the team unloads some big-leaguers instead of acquiring them, bringing in as many position players as possible would be the goal. Adding depth is of the utmost importance, though.
Continue reading...
The Padres are three games under .500 and sit four games back from the final National League wild card spot entering play Friday, needing to jump five teams to obtain a spot. That’s going to be difficult in a short period of time, and while crazier things have happened, it’s probably unlikely that it happens.
That doesn’t mean it can’t happen after the Aug. 3 trade deadline, but general manager A.J. Preller reportedly needs a sign to become buyers and not sellers this year. Would a 6-3 stretch getting them back to .500 convince Preller?
It’s hard to say – it’s hard to dictate how good your team will be down the stretch in a short time frame unless the team is obviously not in contention ahead of the deadline, but I doubt the team sells if their record is 56-56. More than likely, they soft buy or stand pat rather than sell leverage relievers like Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller.
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel went over the landscape of each team’s farm system, breaking down untouchables, prospects to watch if going all-in and biggest need if acquiring prospects ahead of the deadline. San Diego’s farm system is starting to recover after the Miller trade, but it’s still thin.
McDaniel highlighted top prospect, catcher Ethan Salas (who is the only untouchable), as well as recently drafted first-round pitchers Coleman Borthwick, Kruz Schoolcraft (Padres No. 3 prospect) and Kash Mayfield (No. 2), and shortstop Elliot Lascelles being on the rise in the system.
However, Schoolcraft and Mayfield were mentioned among other prospects that could be on the move if the Padres are in position to buy.
“Since the 2026 draftees can't be traded, it's a bit of a limited bunch,” McDaniel wrote Friday. “Schoolcraft has had issues with strikes this year, Mayfield's stuff is more good than great and the rest of the system is either riskier long shots or likely relievers. RHP Bryan Balzer, OF Ryan Wideman, RHP Tucker Musgrove and SS Joniel Hernandez have the most upside of that group.”
Balzer (No. 7), Wideman (No. 6), Musgrove (No. 8) and Hernandez (No. 9) are all in San Diego’s top 10 that could be enticing for sellers around the league.
If the team unloads some big-leaguers instead of acquiring them, bringing in as many position players as possible would be the goal. Adding depth is of the utmost importance, though.
Continue reading...
