As of December 23, 2024, the San Diego Padres are actively engaging in trade discussions involving several key players. General Manager AJ Preller has indicated a willingness to entertain offers for stars such as pitcher Dylan Cease, infielder Luis Arráez, and shortstop Xander Bogaerts. However, reports suggest that while the Padres are open to discussions, actual trades involving these players are not highly likely.
Notably, cornerstone players Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. are not part of these trade considerations, as the organization views them as essential to maintaining their World Series aspirations.
In addition to exploring trade options, the Padres are pursuing Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki. They are considered strong contenders to secure his services, with pitcher Yu Darvish potentially playing a pivotal role in the recruitment process.
Financially, the Padres currently have the 15th-highest payroll in Major League Baseball, approximately $170 million. Given this, the team appears to favor making strategic moves through trades rather than engaging heavily in free-agent signings. This approach aims to acquire younger, controllable talent while managing payroll and addressing the organization’s farm system, which is presently ranked 28th in ML
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