Padres Scouring for Bullpen Additions Amid Strong Relief Core

The San Diego Padres, despite boasting one of the most dominant bullpens in baseball, are already in the market for relief pitching upgrades ahead of the trade deadline. President of baseball operations A.J. Preller is known for his relentless pursuit of roster improvements, and with Dennis Lin of The Athletic reporting, the Padres are actively exploring options to bolster their already elite relief corps.

San Diego’s bullpen ranks seventh in the majors with a 3.32 ERA, second in strikeouts (25.5%), and leads in ground-ball rate (50.8%). The unit has also maintained a 3.23 FIP and 3.27 SIERA, both in the top three in baseball. Mason Miller, Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, and Bradgley Rodriguez have combined for a 1.66 ERA in 21 2/3 innings. Manager Craig Stammen, a former reliever, has built a solid core of arms that can be trusted in high-leverage situations.

However, the Padres have seen inconsistency from lower-leverage relievers like Alek Jacob, Kyle Hart, and David Morgan. The trio has posted ERAs north of 5.00 in a combined 33 innings. Out-of-options knuckleballer Matt Waldron was tagged for seven runs in 9 2/3 innings before landing on the injured list. Despite these hiccups, San Diego’s relievers have thrown 200 1/3 innings, placing them seventh in the majors.

With starting pitchers like Michael King and Randy Vásquez averaging only about 5 2/3 innings per start, the Padres rely heavily on their bullpen. The team is one of only three with five relievers who have reached 20 innings pitched this season. Preller’s aggressive stance is not uncommon, as seen in his 2024 acquisition of Luis Arraez from the Marlins and the Brewers’ pickup of Quinn Priester from Boston in April.

While most teams are not yet in sell mode, the Padres are preparing for inevitabilities like injuries and overuse. Teams like the Giants, Astros, Royals, Tigers, and Mets remain in contention mode, but the Padres are ready to pounce if a team signals openness to a trade.

Josh Hader is a name that has long interested the Padres. The former All-Star closer is owed $19 million in 2025 and is currently sidelined with biceps tendinitis. If Hader hits the market, the Padres could offer to take on a significant portion of his contract to avoid prospect price tags. No talks have occurred yet, but the fit is logical on paper.

With the Padres set to undergo an ownership change, new billionaire owners Jose E Feliciano and Kwanza Jones have signaled openness to spending for a title. As the trade market becomes clearer in the coming weeks, the Padres are positioned to act quickly if the right opportunity arises.