After another rollercoaster season in 2024 that saw a successful regular season and an early postseason exit for the San Diego Padres, 2025 is starting to look like just the same, only with some bigger issues at pitcher.
Michael King’s shoulder inflammation could have him missing the rest of the 2025 season, Joe Musgrove is already there after undergoing Tommy John surgery, Dylan Cease’s earned run average continues to climb, Yu Darvish is just now about to make his season debut, and the bullpen, aside from Jason Adam and Robert Suarez, hasn’t been quite the same ever since Josh Hader left the team.
But if the Padres truly wish to reclaim a dominant starting pitching rotation, there’s one move at the trade deadline that could help them: Pittsburgh Pirates southpaw Andrew Heaney.
Though not the flashiest name the Padres have made a habit of signing lately such as Darvish or Blake Snell, Heaney brings durability, consistency, and underrated lefty work that neither of those names could really carry.
Heaney would also help the Padres stay competitive over the second half of the season without the team having to break the bank for a new arm.
The lefty was a quality arm for the Texas Rangers during their incredible 2023 World Series run, make versatile appearances for the team as a spot starter. The cost-effective fit should be the first thing that sticks out to the team’s front office.
Heaney currently sits at 4-7 in 2025 with 71 strikeouts in 93 innings pitched, though the Pirates offense hasn’t exactly been too keen on giving him or ace Paul Skenes any run support through the year.
Not to mention, Heaney is playoff-built, with much experience with high-market teams and high-pressure situations, which is where the Padres should expect to find themselves if they want to finally bring a World Series title home to San Diego.
