The San Diego Padres are gearing up for a pivotal MLB trade deadline, with a focus on enhancing their roster. General Manager A.J. Preller is expected to pursue significant upgrades, potentially targeting a catcher, left fielder, bullpen help, or even a starting pitcher. However, changes may not be limited to new acquisitions; the Padres could also trade away existing players to better fit their needs. A recent trend in MLB involves teams both buying and selling at the deadline, and the Padres may follow suit by offloading veterans.

Writer Dennis Lin of The Athletic suggests three players who could be moved: Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, and Jake Cronenworth. While Cease and Suarez are set to hit free agency and could bring a substantial return, Cronenworth's partial no-trade clause complicates things. He remains a valuable asset for the Padres, drawing interest from other teams, despite his ability to block certain trades. The Padres face the reality of potentially losing talent while still being buyers at the deadline, raising the stakes for both sides of the transaction.