Padres Trade Talks: Top Prospect For Ace Pitcher?

The San Diego Padres are facing significant challenges this offseason, particularly with their pitching staff. They have already seen ace Dylan Cease depart via free agency to the Toronto Blue Jays. Additionally, frontline starter Michael King is also on the open market, and Robert Suarez remains available. Adding to their pitching woes, Yu Darvish will be sidelined for the entire 2026 season following elbow surgery.

Acquiring new pitchers is paramount for the Padres' upcoming months. Speculation suggests they might even convert a reliever like Mason Miller into a starting role. Beyond free agency, trades are a strong possibility. Multiple significant players have been mentioned as potential trade assets this winter, indicating a willingness to shake up the roster.

The Padres may explore trading one of their top prospects to bolster their 2026 roster. Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter highlighted No. 1 prospect Ethan Salas as a prime candidate. General Manager A.J. Preller has a history of trading prospects for immediate MLB-ready talent, and Salas could be the key to acquiring a quality starting pitcher, with teams like the Milwaukee Brewers (Freddy Peralta) or Miami Marlins (Edward Cabrera) being potential trade partners.