For a team currently just outside the playoff picture, the San Diego Padres will likely be quite active at the trade deadline.
An area of need for the Padres is starting pitching. Michael King has been out since May with a shoulder ailment, and Dylan Cease has been up-and-down all season. Nick Pivetta and his 3.07 ERA has given the team quality innings all year, but outside of him, it hasn’t been much.
In need of help on the frontline, The Athletic’s Tim Britton, Aaron Gleeman, and Chad Jennings believe that Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo could be a good option for the Padres on the trade market.
“Lugo had a breakout season in 2024, pitching more than 200 innings with a 3.00 ERA and finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting,” they wrote. “Now 35, his surface-level numbers are almost identical this year. The pitch and batted ball data suggest he’s not been as good as a year ago, but Lugo has remained plenty effective. He has a player option for 2026 he’s unlikely to exercise barring injury, meaning the right-hander should be considered a rental.”
Lugo previously established himself as a starter in 2023 with the Padres, pitching to an 8-7 record with a 3.57 ERA in 26 starts. However, the following season — as a member of the Kansas City Royals — saw Lugo burst onto the scene in a big way, going 16-9 with a 3.00 ERA in 206.2 innings of work on his way to finishing second in American League Cy Young Award voting.
Lugo has followed last season up nicely, currently 6-5 with a 2.67 ERA in 17 starts for the Royals. With the Royals currently three games under .500, and well outside of the playoff picture, it is possible that the team could sell off some of their soon-to-be free agents such as Lugo.
