Potential trade targets for the Padres as they look for “cheap” pitching
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A look at some pitchers the Padres could potentially trade for before the start of the 2026 season.
There is no doubt that the San Diego Padres are looking for starting pitchers.
A.J. Preller is on the prowl as the Padres desire pitchers at a discount rate. With the payroll apparently topped out, the Padres are searching for pitchers who aren’t going to break the bank.
Zac Gallen is available on the open market. If the Padres desire to spend money, a free agent like Gallen can be signed for the right price. But it appears the right-handed pitcher is out of the budget of the Padres. At least until their ownership issues are resolved.
Gallen would be a huge addition, but you get the feeling that the team would rather invest in an inexpensive free agent starter or possibly trade for one. Saving money will be the goal for the team as they search for starting pitchers with plenty of service time left on their current deals.
If you look around the league, pitching is at a premium.
Some teams have an excess of starting pitching. These franchises are more likely to make moves now rather than as the season starts. Things could heat up rather quickly.
The Padres are capable of dealing players from their bullpen as the unit is arguably one of the best in the league. Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Yuki Matsui, and Wandy Peralta all enjoyed excellent years last season. David Morgan, Garrett Hawkins, Bradgley Rodriguez, and Francis Pena are all capable of stepping up if the Padres choose to deal a veteran arm.
Despite all the noise, the Padres do have relevant prospects who would be of interest to teams. A.J. Preller and his staff show no fear in trading prospects, so anything is certainly possible in their quest to upgrade the pitching staff. They will empty the system further if it means upgrading in the right areas.
The Padres have trade chips. But can they get anything done before opening day?
Here is a look at four pitchers who may be of interest.
Possible additions at minimal cost
The Mets’ goal is a World Series title. Nothing short of that will be acceptable. The team traded for Freddy Peralta this winter. He is their ace. They also have Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, and Nolan McLean on the roster. Jonah Tong is also seasoned and ready for major league action. At this point, David Peterson, in his final year, is expendable.
Peterson is in the last year of arbitration and made $4.625 million last season. That would be a bit of a bump for the Padres in terms of salary, but the lefty has started 72 games in the last three seasons. He is durable and would help the Padres at the tail end of the rotation. The two sides could agree to terms on a smaller deal for the lefty. The two sides are familiar with one another in terms of trade talks.
Lauer is a Dodger killer, and he showed that once again last season in the World Series. Pitching out of the pen, Lauer threw 5 2/3 shutout innings against L.A. The Blue Jays are stocked in starting pitching. The staff currently consists of Dylan Cease, Jose Berrios. Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and Cody Ponce. Shane Bieber is also in the mix, although he is battling arm fatigue.
Eric Lauer will not start for Toronto. The lefty is due to make $4.4 million in 2026, coming off his best season in the majors. He was 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.108 WHIP in 28 games and 104 innings pitched. Lauer showed a bump in velocity on his fastball and also threw more strikes last year. He could be on the verge of becoming a viable starter. The Padres displayed interest in Lauer in the past after he was traded away to Milwaukee. This is something to monitor.
It will cost a little more, but feasible
Bradley was traded from the Rays last year as the Twins were enthralled with his upside. The right-handed pitcher responded by putting up a 6.61 ERA in six starts for the Twins. That is not what they envisioned when they traded for him. Perhaps, he can be acquired from Minnesota at the right price. The right-handed pitcher does have four years of service time left on his contract.
At 24, there is still some potential here. Ruben Niebla could work his magic, but the Padres must be convinced he is capable of getting better. The Twins have Pablo Lopez, Zebby Matthews, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Simeon Woods Richardson penciled into the staff along with Bradley. Minnesota could surely trade a pitcher to upgrade elsewhere. The Padres may already be in contact. San Diego may need to trade a relevant prospect to get this one done.
The Astros need relief help, and that happens to be the Padres’ greatest strength right now. Arrighetti is penciled in the rotation as the number five or six option right now. He suffered injuries in 2025, and his value is lower than when he first debuted in 2024. He struck out 171 batters in 145 innings pitched as a rookie. There is some unknown potential here. Perhaps San Diego is interested.
Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, Tatsuya Imai, Lance McCullers Jr., Mike Burrows, and Ryan Weiss make up the rotation. Houston has depth and could be swayed for the right price. The Padres would need to be convinced that Arrighetti is healthy and capable of emerging in 2026. At 26, the right-handed pitcher has four years of control and is worth a look at the tail end of the rotation.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. James has written about the Padres and their prospects for over a decade. He also writes about San Diego State as well as other local sports. James is the Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.