The San Diego Padres have made their intentions clear: they’re going all in.
In a series of bold moves, the Padres overhauled their pitching staff and solidified their roster, aiming to make a serious playoff push. These trades have not only altered the team’s dynamics but also sent a message to the league that San Diego is ready to compete at the highest level.
On July 30, the Padres acquired left-handed pitcher Tanner Scott and right-hander Bryan Hoeing from the Miami Marlins.
Scott, known for his blazing fastball and strikeout ability, brings a dominant presence to the bullpen, having already secured 18 saves with a 1.18 ERA this season. Hoeing adds depth with his solid 2.70 ERA in 16 appearances, further enhancing San Diego’s pitching options.
The same day, the Padres strengthened their starting rotation by trading for Martin Perez from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Perez, a veteran left-hander and former All-Star, offers experience and potential upside despite a challenging season thus far.
Earlier in the week, the Padres added Jason Adam from the Tampa Bay Rays. Adam, who has been lights-out over the past three seasons, adds another high-leverage arm to the bullpen.
These acquisitions have transformed San Diego’s relief corps into one of the most formidable in the league.
The impact of these moves was immediately evident in a thrilling 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night in San Diego. The Padres, showcasing their new depth, rallied from an early five-run deficit, with key contributions from Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill.
Merrill, reflecting on the dramatic win to MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell, said, “That was a real baseball game.”