Padres revealed to have four trade deadline needs they're searching for

The San Diego Padres are 38-35 on the season so far, and it's clear this team needs a bit more help to get back into the postseason.

With the 2026 MLB trade deadline on August 3 steadily approaching, the Padres, with A.J. Preller at the helm, are a team that's bound to be active in trade markets. But what positions are the Padres looking to add this summer?

According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Padres are reportedly targeting four positions in the trade market, all of which are clear issues the Padres could try to resolve for this year's postseason run.

Padres searching for four upgrades at MLB trade deadline

"The Padres are all over the place," Bowden writes. "They continue to search for starting pitching upgrades, corner outfield help, left-handed power bats, and more catching, like they always do."

Of these needs, the starting rotation issue has been one of the more noteworthy ones for the Padres this season.

While Michael King has been good, and even Randy Vasquez has been solid, they desperately need more options in the starting rotation, with Walker Buehler, Lucas Giolito, and Griffin Canning far from ideal options.

Add in injuries to Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove, and German Marquez, and the starting rotation need is very obvious for this team.

Corner outfield is a huge need, especially following the Ramon Laureano injury. The Padres could use a new corner outfielder, and there's bound to be a few decent options available in the trade market, as there is every year.

MORE: Tarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agency

When it comes to the lefty slugger need for the Padres, other than Gavin Sheets, all of the Padres' best hitters this season are right-handed hitters. Adding a lefty slugger is a big need.

Between the outfield and left-handed hitting need, finding a lefty-hitting corner outfielder, like Mickey Moniak, Jarren Duran, or JJ Bleday, could make sense in a trade.

Then, looking at the catching need, Freddy Fermin has a .148 batting average with a .505 OPS, Rodolfo Duran has a .159 average and a .720 OPS, and Luis Campusano, while he has a .958 OPS, is currently injured.

Overall, the Padres are searching for help in the trade market at four spots, all of which are clear needs for this team that's teetering in a playoff spot.

More MLB news:

• 5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for Cardinals
• Ex-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 success
• Cubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GM
• Yankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution
• Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius