The Padres need to add to their bullpen. A reliever from the American League East would help boost the relief corps in San Diego.

The Padres limped into the All-Star break, losing six of their last season games. In the month of July, 11 games, the Padres rank 26th in bullpen ERA at 5.92. Underperformance and injuries have plagued the bullpen much of the season, aside from Robert Suarez at closer.

In July, Wandy Peralta‘s ERA ballooned to 13.50 before he landed on the injured list. Austin Davis and Enyel De Los Santos also have ERAs north of 10 this month. Minor leaguers like Sean Reynolds and Logan Gillaspie have been forced into action. San Diego needs reinforcements badly.

Yimi Garcia is a solid option.

The Blue Jays are floundering, at eight games below .500 and with less than a 10 percent chance to make the playoffs. They likely should sell at the trade deadline. They should at least sell the pieces set to become free agents at the end of this season, such as Garcia.

The Dominican right-hander has not appeared in a game since June 16. However, reports indicate Garcia will be reinstated this weekend when the Blue Jays return to action. He made two rehab appearances in the minors before the break.

The numbers he put up before going down should attract the Padres’ attention. He was on an All-Star trajectory as a setup man and backup closer, with a 2.57 ERA in 27 appearances. That includes five saves as well. His 2.88 FIP suggests he is doing this on his own, without a good streak of lucky bounces or elite defense behind him.

The Padres also need another reliable right-hander. Aside from Suarez, the Padres have relied heavily on lefties such as Yuki Mastui, Peralta, and Adrian Morejon. Jeremiah Estrada is their best righty, not Suarez, but there is a considerable drop-off afterward. Garcia makes the bullpen much more balanced.

Garcia isn’t just having a good season. He has a track record that spans a decade, with a career 3.53 ERA and 115 ERA+ in just over 400 games. The Padres would be acquiring a right-hander who has been an above-average reliever for the better part of a decade.

He brings a good mix of velocity and movement. His fastball touches 99 mph with a curveball, sinker, and sweeper to complement.

Here he is, blowing a fastball by AL MVP frontrunner Aaron Judge.

Putting Garcia in the Padres’ bullpen balances out the righty/lefty split and gives the Padres much more length late in games. A.J. Preller would not need to part with prized prospects to acquire a setup man on an expiring deal. Perhaps a package with Victor Lizarraga (#10 in org) along with a lottery ticket prospect deep in the organization could get it done.

The Padres desperately need bullpen help. Garcia legitimizes San Diego’s bullpen instantly.

Nick Lee

Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.