Padres linked to two Royals All-Star pitchers, but former Gold Glove winner is clear choice

The San Diego Padres may be searching for starting pitching upgrades at this year's Major League trade deadline. 

Randy Vazquez has been a pleasant surprise, but there are serious questions about how the back end of the rotation will hold up. 

Right-hander Walker Buehler owns a 5.40 ERA through his first six starts, and Griffin Canning just made his season debut on Sunday after returning from a ruptured Achilles. 

"This is an either/or situation here, not a both," FanSided's Chris Landers wrote Monday. "But if San Diego wants to build on its surprisingly strong start to this season, it's going to need to bolster a rotation that so far has been making it work with guys like Griffin Canning, Walker Buehler, and Matt Waldron behind Michael King." 

Landers believes a suitable trade partner for the Padres could be the Kansas City Royals. He mentioned two All-Star pitchers in particular. 

"Hopefully Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove make it back at some point, but that's a big if, and either [Seth] Lugo or [Michael] Wacha would profile nicely as a back-end innings-eater that will make full use of the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park." 

Lugo is the better trade fit for Padres 

Aside from already having experience with the organization in 2023, Lugo makes more sense for the Padres than Wacha. 

The 36-year-old is off to a great start, with a 2.68 ERA and 37 strikeouts through seven starts. 

In 2023, in just two fewer starts (12) at Petco Park than on the road, Lugo posted a 3.66 ERA while allowing just seven home runs in 64 innings.

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That same year, Lugo's numbers didn't change dramatically on the road, and his breaking stuff remains among the best in baseball.

An average fastball velocity of 91.5 mph, including an arsenal that includes eight different pitches, would be a difficult hitting adjustment to make once closer Mason Miller comes into the game and lights up the radar gun. 

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