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[San Diego Padres]

Padres trade deadline shopping list: catching upgrade?

Atlanta Braves Sean Murphy | Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images

A.J. Preller has a long shopping list

It is a tradition like no other, sifting through the endless amount of trade rumors and determining which are true before the July 31 deadline. The San Diego Padres are not looking to make one big move. Instead, you can expect Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller to make two or three trades before the deadline.

Is a new catcher on the horizon​

Several media outlets have reported that Preller has made upgrading the catching position a top priority. He has put tons of pressure on himself to acquire the right catcher that puts them over the top in securing a postseason berth.

The Friars have not been linked to any specific catcher. However, the front office has done its due diligence and assessed the current landscape of the trade market. Both Elias Diaz and Martin Maldonado have regressed significantly at the plate, and the holes in their swings have made them a liability in the lineup. Preller is looking for a catcher who can do damage from the bottom of the order.

Braves Sean Murphy could be a trade option​

Atlanta Braves Sean Murphy could become available with the emergence of Drake Baldwin this season. Injuries and inconsistent play have forced the Braves to consider retooling their roster. The Padres could make a couple of low-level prospects available, as moving Murphy will provide more playing time for Baldwin.

The Friars are looking for a hitter who makes good decisions in the batter’s box and capitalizes on pitchers’ mistakes. Murphy is a proven power hitter and would be a significant upgrade over the Padres’ current options behind the dish. This season, he is batting .243 with 16 HR and 38 RBI in 63 games.

How long for the new catcher to get acclimated?​

The biggest fear is the potential adjustment needed with having a new backstop behind the plate. It will take some time for the pitching staff to get acclimated with throwing to a different target. Often, new catchers are playing catch-up in getting to know each arm on the staff. Miscommunication with calling pitch location will result in an increase in passed balls allowed.

Adding offense to the lineup cannot come at the expense of the defense. Murphy is an outstanding defensive catcher. It should not take him long to acclimate to his new surroundings.

The National League wildcard race is wide open, as the Friars control their destiny. However, they need a deeper lineup, and adding a good-hitting catcher will solve their bottom-of-the-order run production issues.

But at what price is Preller willing to solve this problem is unknown. He cannot deny the fact that acquiring a more permanent solution will end the mixing and matching that has failed this season.

It is up to Preller to settle on a reasonable price to upgrade the catching position.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/2025/7/22/24472768/padres-trade-deadline-shopping-list-catching-upgrade

 

[San Diego Padres]

Good Morning San Diego: Padres interested in Sandy Alcantara

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Everything you need to know about your San Diego Padres on the morning of July 24, 2025.

Articles to read​

San Diego drops final game to Miami, lose series (Matt DeWalt, Gaslamp Ball)

Padres stymied by Sandy Alcantara, drop series to Marlins (Kevin Acee, SD U-T)

Sandy Alcantara, Dylan Cease duel as trade candidates, one more obvious than the other (Dennis Lin, The Athletic)

Padres look to regroup in playoff chase after tough set against Marlins (AJ Cassavell, MLB.com)

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/2025/7/...an-diego-padres-interested-in-sandy-alcantara

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres lose slugfest to Cardinals

Wandy Peralta | Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

Yu Darvish allows eight runs, San Diego drops third straight game

Yu Darvish allowed eight runs in his fourth start of the season and that proved to be too much for the San Diego Padres to overcome as they suffered a 9-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, Thursday.

Darvish was handed a 2-0 lead before he too the mound in the bottom of the first. The Cardinals responded with a run in the bottom half of the frame and the Padres saw their lead cut to 2-1. San Diego did not score in the top of the second and Darvish returned to the mound with the lead. By the time he walked off the mound St. Louis was comfortably in front.

Darvish had two outs with Jordan Walker on base. Darvish allowed a two out walk to Victor Scott II, which moved Walker to second. Both runners scored when Brendan Donovan hit a three-run home run to right field to give the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.

Brendan Donovan - St. Louis Cardinals (9)
pic.twitter.com/RnxMU3Y2pr

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) July 25, 2025​

Darvish then allowed a single and a double before Willson Contreras hit the second three-run home run of the inning to put St. Louis up, 7-2. Darvish got Nolan Arenado to ground out to end the scoring and the inning.

Willson Contreras - St. Louis Cardinals (14)
pic.twitter.com/En6fQFpWWK

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) July 25, 2025​

San Diego provided a quick response with Fernando Tatis Jr. opening the top of the third inning with a solo home run to right-center field to make the score 7-3.

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado go deep and the @Padres are right back in this game pic.twitter.com/L344TNca51

— MLB (@MLB) July 25, 2025​

Louis Arraez followed Tatis Jr. with a double and Manny Machado brought him home with a two-run home run to make the score 7-5.

Manny Mash pic.twitter.com/kZ3CBtjC2q

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 25, 2025​

The Cardinals addd a run to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ivan Herrera singled to score Scott II to make the lead 8-5 for St. Louis. That run ended the night for Darvish who had a final line of 3 1/3 innings pitched with eight runs allowed on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

San Diego added two runs in the top of the fifth inning when Jackson Merrill scored on a Gavin Sheets RBI-groundout to make the score 8-6. Xander Bogaerts went from second to third on the play. Bogaerts would later score when Bryce Johnson reached on a throwing error to make the score, 8-7.

The Cardinals were able to add a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Herrera hit a solo home run off reliever Wandy Peralta to make the score 9-7.

Iván Herrera - St. Louis Cardinals (9)
pic.twitter.com/gMuR3O5kVE

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) July 25, 2025​

The top four batters for the Padres, Tatis Jr., Arraez, Machado and Merrill, finished the night a combined 10-for-19 with six runs scored, five RBI and a walk and four strikeouts. The bottom five spots in the San Diego lineup were a combined 3-for-22 with one run scored, one RBI and eight strikeouts.

The Padres play the Cardinals, Friday at 4:15 p.m.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/2025/7/24/24474119/padres-lose-slugfest-to-cardinals

 

[San Diego Padres]

Game 104: San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Your game thread for July 25, 2025.

San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals, July 25, 2025, 4:15 p.m. PST​

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Watch: Padres TV

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

• Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
• Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
• Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
• The commenting system was updated during the offseason. They’re still working on optimizing it for Game Day Threads like ours. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.

GB community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/2025/7/25/24469431/game-104-san-diego-padres-at-st-louis-cardinals

 

[San Diego Padres]

Padres beat Cardinals to end losing streak at four games

Jake Cronenworth | Tim Vizer-Imagn Images

Jake Cronenworth scores two runs, proves to be the difference in the game

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth has received some trade interest over the past week and he showed why with a 1-for-3 night with a double and two runs scored that proved to be the difference in a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, Saturday.

Cronenworth was hit by a pitch in the top of the second and reached first base with one out. He came around to score two batters later when Bryce Johnson hit a two-out single to center field, which resulted in a throwing error by Cardinals centerfielder Victor Scott II. Cronenworth crossed the plate and put the Padres up, 1-0.

Hit by Johnson. Wheels by Cronenworth. pic.twitter.com/3c6DZTTGMj

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 26, 2025​

St. Louis tied the game in the bottom of the second inning when Jordan Walker doubled to center field, which allowed Nolan Arenado, who reached on a one-out walk, to come home to make the score, 1-1.

#Padres 1 #Cardinals 1 [B2–2o]:

Jordan Walker doubles: line drive to CF
Hit: 109.2mph, 383ft, 17°, .741xBA

Pitch: 92.4mph Cutter (RHP R.Vásquez)#ForTheFaithful #ForTheLou #MLB pic.twitter.com/qc1ygTnFrR

— MLB Run Videos (@MLBRBIs) July 27, 2025​

San Diego regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Cronenworth led off with a double to right field. He moved to third base on a Jose Iglesias ground out for the first out of the inning. Johnson laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Cronenworth to score to put the Padres in front, 2-1.

Bryce Johnson executes a safety squeeze and reaches on a fielder's choice, while Jake Cronenworth slides in safely at home to put the Padres in front#ForTheFaithful pic.twitter.com/u7rChZMiZa

— San Diego Strong (@PadresStrong) July 27, 2025​

San Diego tacked on a run in the top of the ninth inning when Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a hard ground ball off the glove of Masyn Winn at shortstop. The ball kicked away from Winn and Johnson scored from third base to make the score, 3-1.

#Padres 3 #Cardinals 1 [T9–2o]:

Fernando Tatis Jr. grounds out: ground ball to SS
Hit: 89.1mph, 8ft, -23°, .147xBA

Pitch: 84.1mph Slider (RHP A.Granillo)#ForTheFaithful #ForTheLou #MLB pic.twitter.com/u8pgrN1LqN

— MLB Run Videos (@MLBRBIs) July 27, 2025​

Randy Vasquez continued to perform his role on the mound with another solid start that saw him unable to earn a win. Vasquez completed 4 2/3 innings and allowed one run on one hit with a walk and two strikeouts.

Vasquez handed the game over to the bullpen and watched as Adrian Morejon got the final out in the fifth and the first two outs in the sixth without allowing a run. Jeremiah Estrada finished the sixth and pitched a scoreless seventh and Jason Adam did the same in the eighth.

The game was turned over to Robert Suarez in the bottom of the ninth. The San Diego closer retired Alec Burleson with a strikeout and then hit Willson Contreras on an 0-2 pitch. Suarez got Nolan Arenado to fly out to right field and he secured the win for the Padres with a ground ball to shortstop resulted in a force out at second base.

San Diego plays St. Louis, Sunday at 11:15 a.m. to wrap up the four-game series.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/2025/7/...-cardinals-to-end-losing-streak-at-four-games

 

[San Diego Padres]

Game 106: San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals

Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Your game thread for July 27, 2025.

San Diego Padres at St. Louis Cardinals, July 27, 2025, 11:15 a.m. PST​

Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO

Watch: Padres TV

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

---

Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

• Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
• Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
• Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
• The commenting system was updated during the offseason. They’re still working on optimizing it for Game Day Threads like ours. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.

GB community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/2025/7/27/24469434/game-106-san-diego-padres-at-st-louis-cardinals

 

[San Diego Padres]

David Morgan poised to make an impact out of Padres bullpen

San Diego Padres David Morgan | Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images

The Friars hope the young reliever could be the missing piece late in games.

The San Diego Padres have stumbled out of the gate in the second half, with offensive struggles being the biggest obstacle to overcome. The bullpen has been the strength of the roster all season. However, its depth seemed challenged by the slow start after the All-Star break.

Despite all the accolades, major league teams never have enough pitching. Additions to the ‘pen will be needed to maintain the unit’s dominance. Whether it is tired arms or an injury, the Padres will need new faces to help them record more wins.

One player that has come out of nowhere to contribute is David Morgan, and he is poised to make an impact coming out of the bullpen.

Morgan has opened some eyes​

The right-hander has spent four seasons in the Friars’ farm system. Morgan struck out 143 batters (10.5 K9) and walked 43 of them (3.1 BB9) in his minor league career.

The young hurler has been showcasing his talents since being recalled in late May. He has thrown his four-seam fastball in the upper 90s, but Morgan has dominated opponents with his curveball. Opposing hitters are batting .218 against him since his call up.

He is on the verge of claiming a more prominent role in the bridge to the closer, Robert Suarez. Through 20 appearances and 24.0 innings pitched, Morgan has a 2.25 ERA with 24 strikeouts and two home runs allowed. The only concern has been his control. He has issued nine walks, which equates to a 2.5-1 walk-to-strikeout ratio.

Back end of Padres bullpen needs reinforcements​

Padres manager Mike Shildt has affectionately coined the backend of the bullpen (Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, and Suarez) as “The Four Horsemen.” However, their effectiveness has been tested with excessive use in the first half. Moving Morgan into more high-pressure late-inning situations would make the pen deeper and eliminate the threat of the Four Horsemen limping into August.

It would not be the first time Shildt moved a rookie into a more prominent bullpen role. You may recall Estrada’s introduction to the majors last season. He moved up the ladder quickly to become a key contributor in capturing a postseason berth last October.

Landing an impactful arm at the trade deadline is the goal of every contending team. The Friars would benefit from an internal addition like Morgan, who has proven to keep the base paths empty on most nights.

His value is exceedingly high, and he can carve out a decent major league career by succeeding with added responsibilities.

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/2025/7/...oised-to-make-an-impact-out-of-padres-bullpen

 

[San Diego Padres]

Game 107: New York Mets at San Diego Padres

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Your game thread for July 28, 2025.

New York Mets at San Diego Padres, July 28, 2025, 6:40 p.m. PST​

Location: Petco Park, San Diego, CA

Watch: Padres TV, MLB Network

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

---

Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

• Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
• Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
• Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
• The commenting system was updated during the offseason. They’re still working on optimizing it for Game Day Threads like ours. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.

GB community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!

Source: https://www.gaslampball.com/2025/7/28/24475212/game-107-new-york-mets-at-san-diego-padres