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

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.

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If the Boston Red Sox need bullpen help, and they turn their season around, Morejon to Boston for one of their depth starters would make a ton of sense.

He has a 2.83 ERA in 2024 and followed it up with an even better 2.08 ERA in 2025 across 75 appearances (15 more than the year before). But, through nine games in 2026, Morejon has posted a 6.75 ERA.

The Padres could benefit from seeing less of Morejon this season, as his -0.6 bWAR figures are hurting the team. Morejon is the top trade candidate for the Padres, and it would not be a surprise to see Preller get creative this season at the deadline.

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