The San Diego Padres are often among the teams most likely to be buyers at the MLB trade deadline. This year is looking to be more of the same, especially since they aren’t up by much in the NL Wild Card race.
Major League Baseball executives also view the Padres as buyers. In a piece from Jim Bowden of The Athletic, MLB executives believe the Padres could be looking to trade catching prospect Ethan Salas.
“A.J. Preller and the Padres are always looking to make a splash at the trade deadline and are never afraid to trade their top prospects.” Bowden wrote. “I doubt the Padres will trade him unless they can get an All-Star major leaguer in return who could help them win during this key window for their roster.”
Salas is the team’s second-ranked prospect, and he’s ranked 25th across all of baseball. While MLB executives believe Salas is a potential trade candidate, Bowden doesn’t see it happening, barring a major splash addition.
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The Padres are well known to make such moves, but there aren’t many options that the Padres could trade Salas for on the market this trade deadline. There is no Juan Soto, and most of the teams who are selling aren’t willing to part with their top players.
What makes this potential move even more unlikely is the Padres’ dire need at catcher. Martin Maldanado and Elias Diaz aren’t great options, and while Salas is a ways away from his MLB debut, moving him would leave the organization barren at catcher.
The 19-year-old prospect is one of the most hyped prospects in baseball over the past few years. While Preller and the Padres could capitalize on his hype and trade him for a great player, there aren’t any on the market.
As Bowden wrote, it’d take a lot for the Padres to move him. But, he isn’t shutting the door yet, as Preller could swing a deal using Salas if the right player becomes available.
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