Padres could trade All-Star lefty reliever to address starting rotation issues

Padres could trade All-Star lefty reliever to address starting rotation issues originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The San Diego Padres are looking to be a contender this season, as they are 15-7 to begin the year, only a 0.5 game back of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A big reason for their success, beyond the offense producing fairly well, is the bullpen's dominance, led by Mason Miller, having a Cy Young caliber season so far. But there are other relievers on the roster who aren't pitching as well.

Adrian Morejon is one of those relievers, and ESPN's David Schoenfield proposed a scenario in which A.J. Preller trades Morejon to resolve the starting rotation issues to become a more serious World Series contender.

Padres linked to Adrian Morejon trade for SP help

"With one of the weakest farm systems in the majors, however, general manager A.J. Preller will have to get creative to make a deal," Schoenfield writes. "... that might mean dealing from the team's strength to help acquire a starter or a hitter."

The Padres' clear strength is their bullpen, and as Schoenfield writes, "Trade candidate: Adrian Morejon (FA)." Morejon being traded would not be a surprise for a few reasons.

While he was an All-Star last season, and has been one of the best lefty relievers in the Majors the last two years, the Padres reliever is in the final year of his club control.

Instead of the Padres holding onto Morejon for the rest of 2026 before he becomes a free agent, they could trade him to another contender for some starting pitching depth.