The direction the San Diego Padres will take at the MLB trade deadline remains a mystery, with speculation swirling about whether they’ll dive into the market as buyers or offload talent as sellers. What seems almost certain, however, is that A.J. Preller, the team’s president of baseball operations, is poised to make headlines with a potential blockbuster trade.
As the Padres prepared for their matchup against the Kansas City Royals on Friday, they found themselves just 3 ½ games shy of an NL wild card berth. The team’s performance in the coming fortnight will heavily influence their strategic decisions, prompting the front office to choose a definitive path.
Should San Diego opt to sell before the August 3 deadline, insider Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune has noted that the organization is contemplating trading several key players.
“Several sources indicated that the Padres are keeping all options open, which could even involve trading closer Mason Miller, pivotal left-hander Adrian Morejón, or [Michael] King,” Acee reported.
Just last summer, Preller managed the trade deadline’s most talked-about maneuver by bringing Mason Miller over from the Athletics. If the Padres’ slump persists, there is considerable speculation that the hard-throwing closer might be on the move by month’s end.
King was also dealt to San Diego in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees in 2023. The right-hander is sporting a 3.41 ERA with 92 strikeouts across 108.1 innings pitched. He has a 6-7 record this season.
King’s mark is similar to his 3.44 ERA in 2025, a season that was headlined by injuries for the pitcher.
Morejon is the only hurler of the trio who wasn’t acquired via trade. The Padres signed the reliever as an international free agent from Cuba. The lefty has posted a 3.42 ERA, which is far higher than his 2.08 ERA last season.
Miller is baseball’s best closer, and it would certainly be tough for San Diego to lose such a talented star. However, the Padres have endured a rough season, and things can’t continue as they are.
Preller has largely operated under the element of surprise, so the Padres shouldn’t be underestimated heading into the trade deadline.