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2d ago

Padres Weigh Cease and Arráez Trades While Pursuing Kyle Stowers

A looming luxury-tax surcharge has forced the Padres into a strategy that flips expiring contracts into roster upgrades through targeted trades

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 18: Dylan Cease #84 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 18, 2025 in Washington, DC.
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Overview

  • FanGraphs projects San Diego’s 2025 payroll at $263 million, triggering a 12 percent luxury-tax surcharge that heightens deadline urgency
  • General manager A.J. Preller is evaluating free agents Dylan Cease and Luis Arráez as trade chips to shore up left field, catcher depth and the back of the rotation
  • With visible holes in left field and behind the plate plus a thinning rotation, the Padres are seeking immediate upgrades before the July 30 deadline
  • The team is courting Marlins slugger Kyle Stowers, whose 21 home runs and .930 OPS this season pair with club control through 2029 to make him a premium target
  • This hybrid buy-and-sell approach aims to balance short-term contention with long-term flexibility and could define both San Diego’s playoff push and Preller’s tenure