The 2025 season for the San Diego Padres mirrors the previous year, marred by injuries to key pitchers. Michael King is facing a potential season-ending shoulder issue, and Joe Musgrove has already undergone Tommy John surgery. Dylan Cease's performance has been lackluster, while Yu Darvish is just making his season debut. The bullpen, after the departure of Josh Hader, has struggled to maintain effectiveness. A potential solution to stabilize their rotation could be Andrew Heaney from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Heaney isn't the marquee name like Darvish or Blake Snell but offers durability and consistent left-handed pitching. He could fit into the Padres' budget while adding depth to their rotation, especially following his contributions during the Texas Rangers' 2023 World Series run. Currently, Heaney has a 4-7 record in 2025 with 71 strikeouts over 93 innings, though limited run support has hindered his effectiveness.