As the 2025 MLB trade deadline nears, the San Diego Padres once again face a familiar dilemma: they’re talented and competitive but still missing a crucial piece to become true World Series contenders. Under the leadership of President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller, the Padres have never hesitated to make bold, attention-grabbing moves.
This season, with pressing needs and a win-now roster, the team must go beyond minor additions and pursue a game-changing trade. To fully capitalize on their current championship window and address critical gaps, the Padres should look to deal All-Star closer Robert Suarez before the deadline.
Why Robert Suarez Is the Trade Chip the Padres Need
Robert Suarez has been outstanding for the Padres, earning All-Star honors in 2024 and leading the majors in saves and games finished for much of the 2025 season.
In his first 18 appearances, he was nearly untouchable, recording a 0.51 ERA with 15 saves and allowing just one earned run—until a rare blown save pushed his ERA up to 3.00. Despite that setback, Suarez remains one of baseball’s top late-inning relievers. However, it’s his contract status that’s pushing San Diego to consider a trade.
Suarez is in the third year of a five-year, \$46 million deal signed in 2022, but he has the option to opt out after this season. With his current performance and a rising market for elite relievers—highlighted by Tanner Scott’s recent four-year, \$72 million contract—it’s highly likely Suarez will hit free agency in pursuit of a more lucrative deal. If the Padres keep him and he leaves, they’ll be left with only a compensatory draft pick.
Dealing Suarez wouldn’t mean giving up on the season. The Padres have capable internal candidates to close games, including Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon, both of whom have experience in high-leverage situations.
While neither is as dominant as Suarez, the potential downgrade is manageable, and the team could supplement the bullpen with more affordable additions.
More importantly, trading Suarez would give San Diego a chance to fill a greater area of need: left field. Their current options—Jason Heyward and Brandon Lockridge—offer solid defense but have struggled at the plate.
Heyward, now 35, is hitting just .185/.233/.284, and neither he nor Lockridge projects as an everyday contributor for a playoff-bound team. With the postseason approaching and the NL full of high-powered offenses, the Padres can’t afford to ignore this glaring weakness in their lineup.
The Trade Proposal
Elite closers are consistently sought after at the trade deadline, particularly by teams aiming for a deep postseason run but lacking reliability in their bullpen. The Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox all emerge as logical trade partners, given their playoff ambitions and the prospect resources to strike a deal. With Robert Suarez’s strong performance history and team-friendly contract, the Padres are in a position to demand a valuable return — potentially including a big-league-ready outfielder or a top-tier prospect.
Proposed Trade
Padres receive:
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OF Evan Carter
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RHP Brock Porter
Rangers receive:
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RHP Robert Suarez
Evan Carter, a standout young outfielder for the Rangers, has already shown signs of becoming a star. He would be an immediate asset for the Padres, enhancing their outfield both offensively and defensively. With his speed, plate discipline, and developing power, Carter would provide long-term stability in left field. Brock Porter, a well-regarded pitching prospect, would help replenish a Padres farm system that has undergone considerable turnover.
From Texas’s perspective, acquiring Suarez would strengthen the back end of their bullpen, a clear area of need. Adding a proven closer would be a key boost to their playoff hopes. Given their organizational depth in the outfield and the rise of other young players, the Rangers could afford to part with Carter in the right trade.
While the Padres’ minor league system isn’t as deep as it once was, it still features top-end talent. Leodalis De Vries, an 18-year-old shortstop ranked No. 18 overall, could debut by late 2025. Catcher Ethan Salas, also 18, remains a top-50 prospect despite a tough 2024 campaign. Acquiring Carter would allow San Diego to ease the development timeline for these young stars rather than rush them to the majors.
San Diego has a roster built to contend in 2025 but still has some notable weaknesses that could be exposed in the postseason. Trading Suarez would be a strategic move — shoring up left field, bringing in a premium pitching prospect, and avoiding the risk of losing Suarez for minimal return.
If the Padres want to capitalize on their championship window, dealing Robert Suarez before the 2025 trade deadline is essential. His market value is at its peak, the team has internal bullpen alternatives, and the right trade could plug major holes while securing the franchise’s future.
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