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San Diego Padres trade rumors: Veteran reliever on deadline list

By Kevin Henry

Jul 23, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; A general view of a San Diego Padres hat and glove in the dugout prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres at loanDepot park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 23, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; A general view of a San Diego Padres hat and glove in the dugout prior to the game between the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres at loanDepot park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Looking to shore up their bullpen for the final two months of the regular season, the San Diego Padres will reportedly target a veteran reliever as the 2022 MLB trade deadline draws near.

San Diego Padres trade rumors: Targeting a veteran reliever as a need before the trade deadline?

According to FanSided’s Baseball Insiders, which includes MLB insider Robert Murray, the San Diego Padres are expected “to target a veteran reliever to boost Bob Melvin’s bullpen.” Among the names of relievers that are expected to be swapped at the deadline include David Robertson of the Chicago Cubs, Andrew Chafin of the Detroit Tigers, and Alex Colomé of the division rival Colorado Rockies, a pitcher that USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale mentioned recently as one being shopped by the Rockies.

One name that won’t be on that list is Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader as the Insiders report that Milwaukee will not deal Hader before the deadline. However, they don’t rule out “a chance that something materializes during the offseason.”

While San Diego’s rotation has accounted for 1.1 bWAR (14th in all of Major League Baseball) heading into Tuesday’s action, the Padres bullpen has not been as productive, logging a minus-2.2 bWAR (ranking 24th).

July has not been kind to the Padres bullpen as the bullpen has surrendered at least one run in 10 consecutive games since July 1. That includes multiple runs in four straight games heading into Tuesday night’s play. This month, San Diego’s bullpen has posted a 6.21 ERA, the fourth-highest mark in MLB, while opponents are hitting .291 (tied for third-highest), and the 25 runs allowed are the fifth-most.

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According to this MLB.com article, San Diego’s bullpen has been “scraping by” thanks in part to the length their starting pitchers have been going, but that can’t be expected to last all season. Between that and the recent numbers posted by the bullpen, look for San Diego President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller to explore options for a veteran reliever before the MLB trade deadline passes.

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