San Diego Padres Seeking Trade to Strengthen Starting Rotation
The San Diego Padres face a challenging season, contending with the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers, who recently acquired the top player in baseball. Despite this, the Padres have made significant progress, boasting a 56-50 record. They are currently 6.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West but hold the third Wild Card spot.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are closely trailing the Padres, just one game behind, and have recently traded for left-handed reliever AJ Puk. What moves will the Padres make next?
San Diego Padres Targeting Jameson Taillon in Trade
While the Padres have a number of pitchers, not all have been healthy. This has necessitated calling up Adam Mazur, who has struggled with a 7.49 ERA in eight starts. This performance is unsustainable for a team with playoff aspirations.
According to The Athletic, the Padres are among several teams interested in trading for Chicago Cubs’ right-handed pitcher Jameson Taillon. Taillon is under contract for several more seasons, with free agency looming in 2027.
The cost of Taillon’s contract, however, may deter smaller-market teams. The Padres are undeterred.
Jameson Taillon Contract Details
– Contract: 4 years, $68M
– Annual Salary (2024-2026): $18M
If other teams shy away from picking up the remainder of Taillon’s contract, it could work in the Padres’ favor. Taillon is having a stellar season, the best of his career.
Jameson Taillon 2024 Stats
– Record: 7-5
– ERA: 2.96
– Strikeouts: 78
– WHIP: 1.146
While Taillon may not immediately lead the rotation, replacing Mazur with him could significantly boost San Diego’s pitching staff for their postseason run. Now, the Padres just need to craft the right trade offer to secure Taillon from the Cubs.