3 sneaky Padres’ 2026 MLB trade deadline targets to chase

Even though the San Diego Padres are hopeful of getting a pitcher back on the mound, they desperately need to trade for a hitter to help a stagnant lineup. And here are three sneaky 2026 MLB trade deadline targets for the Padres to chase.

The Padres are finding it hard to keep pace with the Dodgers in the NL West. The gap heading into Thursday stood at nine games.

Hitting is the biggest issue, as the Padres rank dead last in all of baseball with an embarrassing .220 team batting average. They don’t offer much in the power department, either. They are tied for No. 22 with 81 homers.

And even though the starting pitching could use a boost, the Padres need to target hitters.

IF Luis Arraez, Giants

The best way to fix a team batting average problem is to get one of the best contact sticks in the league. Arraez fits that bill. He ranks No. 5 in MLB with a .321 batting average. Although he hasn’t gotten on base quite as consistently as he did in 2023, his current .358 mark is better than he had in the last two seasons.

The Padres are familiar with Arraez, who played for them in 2024 and 2025. And he has already been tabbed as a likely candidate to get traded back to the Padres, according to Bleacher Report.

“Contenders who are deficient at second base include the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays,” Zachary D. Rymer wrote. “There’s also the San Diego Padres. Their decision to move Fernando Tatis Jr. to second base has cleared playing time for Nick Castellanos in right field, but his bat (.194 AVG, .560 OPS) should have his job on borrowed time.”

Plus, Arraez expressed fondness for his days with the Padres, according to Sports Illustrated.

“A.J. put [together] a good group, especially inside the clubhouse,” Arraez said. “We have a really good relationship there. (The Padres) have really good fans. I think they still love me. And I know A.J. still loves me.”

C Adley Rutschman, Orioles

It would help the Padres to take a step forward at the catcher position. They haven’t gotten much of anything offensively from Freddy Fermin, and Luis Campusano is on the injured list. Campusano was helping, but he hasn’t played since May 5 despite an initial hope he might not even need an IL stint, according to MLB.com.

“He’s definitely feeling better today than he was yesterday,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said in early May. “But we’re just in a little bit of a bind with the catching situation. It’s a position that you can’t really hide, and you need a couple of them.

“It’ll be good [for Campusano] to be able to get past it on the IL stint and be able to be healthy when he comes back, instead of trying to play through something.”

There’s enough evidence to trade for Rutschman, who has put together solid numbers so far. He’s batting .254 with eight homers and 40 RBIs. His on-base percentage is .329.

Of course, Rutschman is currently dealing with his own injury situation. He’s on the seven-day IL after getting hit on the left side of the head by a throw from Seattle shortstop Colt Emerson.

Still, Rutschman is eligible to return this weekend. But concussions can be tricky, especially for a catcher, according to MLB.com.

“Obviously, it sucks for Adley,” Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. “Especially with concussions and head injuries, it’s tough. And especially the position he plays, with the constant foul tips and balls in the dirt and backswings, plays at the plate.”

LF Taylor Ward, Orioles

This might be a great match for the Padres. It hasn’t been a great power season for Ward, who has just five homers after knocking 36 out of the park in 2025. However, he’s hitting .257 and has an on-base percentage of .389.

The latter mark is way above his career-best, so it suggests he’s being more patient at the plate. Perhaps the power numbers will come around soon.

The Padres are certainly on the short list for Ward, according to ESPN.

“Ward has been very consistent, offering above-average offensive value for the sixth year in a row,” Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan wrote. “His defensive value is slipping into the fringy-but-fine area, while his spike in walk rate has helped make up for his drop in barrel rate.

“The components for power are still here, so I think his power numbers will get some positive regression in the second half. That said, Ward is a player whom the acquiring team is probably happy doesn’t come with a multiyear commitment. Both to lower the price in prospects and also because he has turned into a different player for the first half of 2026 than the one the O’s acquired in the winter.”

This could be a win-win for the Padres. They get a guy who fits their most urgent need right away. And they get a guy who could have a big second half, power-wise.

And since he’s 32 years old, the Padres shouldn’t have to pay a trade premium to get him. That’s important because the Padres don’t have the deepest farm system. They can’t afford to spend big in that regard, unless they’re getting a season-changer like Tarik Skubal.

The post 3 sneaky Padres’ 2026 MLB trade deadline targets to chase appeared first on ClutchPoints.