Rumors leading up to the MLB trade deadline have highlighted pitching as a major need for the San Diego Padres. With the deadline just hours away at 6:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, the Padres are now shifting their focus toward a significant second trade.
Despite trading Juan Soto to the New York Yankees in the offseason, the Padres have performed better than expected this season and remain in playoff contention. Positioned relatively well in the MLB standings, San Diego is aiming to secure one of the top available pitchers.
The Padres’ rotation, once a team strength, has struggled this season. However, recent signs of improvement are encouraging. Since June 1, San Diego’s rotation boasts the sixth-lowest ERA in the league at 3.83. There is still room for growth, which is motivating their current trade efforts.
According to Dennis Lin and Chad Jennings of The Athletic, the Padres are negotiating with the Detroit Tigers for a deal involving ace Jack Flaherty before the trade deadline.
Flaherty, 28, has posted impressive stats this season with a 2.95 ERA, 11.22 K/9, and a 0.96 WHIP over 106.2 innings. Though he would be a rental for the remainder of the season, his strong performance keeps his trade value high.
The situation is complicated by the fact that many of the Padres’ top prospects were traded either this offseason or as part of the recent acquisition of Tampa Bay Rays reliever Jason Adam. Additionally, competition from teams like the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees means San Diego will need to outbid other clubs to secure Flaherty.
