A few days before the San Diego Padres’ 2026 season began, I attempted to guess which Friars might be on the trade block should the club go into selling mode at the Trade Deadline. With A.J. Preller in the General Manager’s chair, just about anything can happen for this club. And even though new ownership may change Preller’s status with the club, it seems likely that he stays after his extension this offseason.
It’s hard to argue with the results of Preller’s wheel-and-deal style of management. Despite trading away 14 players last season — and destroying the San Diego farm system in the process — the Padres remain in contention year after year. So who (from most likely to massive long shot) might the Friars seek to add this year?
Gleyber Torres, 2B (DET)
Gleyber Torres had an All-Star 2025, slugging 16 home runs and batting .256/.358/.387 on the year. He was one of four Tigers players sent to the All-Star game in Atlanta. Even though his second half wasn’t nearly as good as his first, he was still extended a $22.025 million qualifying offer from the Detroit Tigers.
That is, admittedly, a lot of money. But it would be prorated for the Padres if they picked him up. That means they would only be paying him for the remainder of 2026, not the full amount of the contract. It’s also possible that Detroit could foot the bill a little to sweeten the deal.
Trade Package:
Padres receive: 2B Gleyber Torres
Tigers receive: 2B Jake Cronenworth, LHP Yuki Matsui
The deal benefits both sides, with each swapping second basemen and the Tigers getting a boost to their beleaguered relief corps. Torres’ defense is certainly a step down from Cronenworth’s, but the slug gives the Friars a much better bat at second.
Michael Wacha, SP (KC)
A reunion story! Michael Wacha pitched for San Diego in the let-down that was the 2023 MLB season. That year saw an absolutely stacked Padres’ roster miss the postseason despite a late push. However, Wacha was a bona fide ace for the rotation and continues to be for the Kansas City Royals.
He’s been one of the most (if not the most) underrated starting pitchers in MLB. He’s gotten off to a great start in his age-34 season, pitching to a 2.51 ERA over 32 1/3 innings. For a team in need of reliable starting pitching, Wacha fills that gap considerably.
Trade Package:
Padres receive: RHP Michael Wacha
Royals receive: OF Nick Castellanos, SD No. 9 prospect OF Ryan Wideman
Kansas City has needed lineup help for a while, but nowhere has been quite as needy as their outfield group. Their lackluster offense has contributed to a last-place finish thus far. Castellanos has not been off to a great start to 2026, but he’s only one year removed from a 17-homer campaign. It’s possible he may flourish with the new outfield dimensions in Kauffman Stadium.
But the greatest part about acquiring Wacha? He’d stay with San Diego for 2027 and would have a club option for 2028, meaning that the Friars have a reliable starter for the coming years with the imminent possible exits of both Nick Pivetta and Michael King from their rotation.
Yordan Alvarez, DH/OF (HOU)
This is the big one. The one that will probably never happen but it’s too tantalizing to ignore. Yordan Alvarez has been the best hitter in all of MLB, and it’s not even close. He leads the league in home runs (11), batting average (.375), on-base percentage (.466), slugging percentage (.779) and OPS (1.245).
Alvarez’s only problem in the past has been staying on the field. Injuries derailed his 2025 season, leading to him only playing 48 games for the Houston Astros. The Padres have been searching for a high-impact bat like Alvarez for years, and he could finally be it. The only problem is the cost would be enormous.
Alvarez is due close to $27 million in 2027, and another $27 million in 2028, before hitting free agency in ’29. It’s an insane amount of money (especially for a guy who only DH’s most of the time), but it could be worth it for a San Diego club in need of slug amidst their World Series window.
Trade Package:
Padres receive: DH/OF Yordan Alvarez
Astros receive: SD No. 4 prospect LHP Kash Mayfield, SD No. 5 prospect RHP Humberto Cruz, SD No. 12 prospect OF Braedon Karpathios, SD No. 23 prospect SS/2B Jhoan De La Cruz
I know, it’s a lot of prospects. The farm is already empty enough as is. But Houston needs prospects almost as bad (if not worse) than San Diego does. And if the Friars are serious about contending for a World Series ring this year, they need a bat like Alvarez’s. That kind of bat is only traded if you’re willing to pay through the nose.
This trade is contingent on a multitude of premises: the Astros are still as bad as they are now come Trade Deadline, the Padres’ new ownership is willing to spend in order to win, and Preller is willing to empty the farm system that much all over again. But if that comes together, Alvarez could wear brown and gold this postseason. And wouldn’t that be a beautiful sight to see?
Main Photo Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images
