The Tampa Bay Rays are dealing, acquiring three more prospects in a trade for a reliever. On Sunday, the San Diego Padres joined the trade deadline party by trading for Rays righty reliever Jason Adam. San Diego addressed their biggest need, but at the cost of their top pitching prospect and two other minor leaguers. In exchange for Adam, the Rays received RHP Dylan Lesko (Padres No. 3 prospect), OF Homer Bush Jr. (Padres No. 8), and C J.D. Gonzalez (Padres No. 12).
We have acquired right-handed reliever Jason Adam from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for right-hander Dylan Lesko, outfielder Homer Bush Jr. and catcher J.D. Gonzalez.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 28, 2024
Entering his second year of arbitration eligibility this offseason, the soon-to-be 33-year-old reliever is under team control through 2026. Pitching mostly in a setup role, Adam owns a 2.49 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 47 innings this season. He has a 2.30 ERA with 194 strikeouts in 164 ⅔ innings over three seasons with the Rays. His three-pitch mix grades above average while his whiff rate ranks in the top five percent of the league. Adam will join an already high-octane Padres bullpen with closer Robert Suarez and set-up relievers Adrián Morejón and Jeremiah Estrada.
Rays Trade Reliever Jason Adam to the Padres
Jason Adam is the latest addition to the Padres roster, joining ace Dylan Cease and infielder Luis Arráez as the new kids on the block. Tampa’s asking price for the veteran righty was steep, especially following the trade sending Angels closer Carlos Estévez to the Philadelphia Phillies. Dylan Lesko is a highly regarded prospect who San Diego drafted in the first round in 2022. He has struggled with his command this season with a 6.46 ERA at High-A Fort Wayne, but his upside remains high. Bush and Gonzalez are also well-regarded in the Padres organization, drafted in the middle rounds last year. Like Lesko, both are some distance away from making an impact in the majors, but are solid additions.
With a half-game hold on the second NL Wild Card spot, San Diego remains active in the starting pitching market. Entering play Sunday, Padres starters have a combined 1.44 ERA since the All-Star break, but have done so mostly with a four-man rotation. As for Tampa Bay, after trading Randy Arozarena to the Seattle Mariners and Zach Eflin to the Baltimore Orioles, they now have arguably the best farm system in baseball. The Rays could still have a few trades up their sleeve with closer Pete Fairbanks and infielders Isaac Paredes and Yandy Díaz also drawing interest. To make room for Adam on the 40-man roster, the Padres designated right-hander Glenn Otto for assignment.
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