Padres not expected to target starting pitching at MLB trade deadline

With the MLB trade deadline a little over two weeks away, a lot of the team's needs are coming into focus. For the San Diego Padres, they have two main targets: catcher and left field.

They've also been linked to starting pitching this season, but after a new report from Dennis Lin in The Athletic, it seems likely that the Padres will not spend assets on starters this trade deadline.

"The Padres," Lin writes, "At least for now, do not seem as worried about their starting pitching. Last week, in his two starts of the season, Yu Darvish displayed understandable rust and encouraging stuff. Opening Day starter Michael King, sidelined since May by a nerve issue, has made significant progress toward a potential return in August."

It's been a strange season for the Padres' starting rotation. With King starting the year off strong, but missing significant time, and Cease putting together a lackluster campaign so far, the Padres haven't had a rotation at full strength yet.

Darvish is back, but has yet to shake off the rust. The best pitcher for the Padres this season has been veteran journeyman Nick Pivetta. Through his first 19 starts of the year, he has a 2.88 ERA, a 9-2 record, 122 strikeouts, and a 1.02 WHIP in 109.1 innings.

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The struggles from Cease and the absence of King have been mitigated thanks to Pivetta producing at such a high level. Even Randy Vasquez, who has a 3.80 ERA in 94.2 innings pitched, has been solid enough for the Padres.

While adding a starter could be appealing, based on this report from Lin, barring another injury or other bad news, the Padres won't be exploring the starting pitching trade market this season.

A rotation of King, Cease, Pivetta, Darvish, and Vasquez is good enough to win a postseason series or two. And if Joe Musgrove can return, even if only in a limited capacity, there's even more reason for the Padres to skip out on starter help.

Instead, A.J. Preller and Mike Shildt should look for the best left fielder or catcher to acquire. The starting rotation is strong enough, and the bullpen has been great. The only issue is the offense, and based on this report, it looks like the Padres will focus on offensive additions at this year's trade deadline.

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