Padres trade deadline: 3 dream starting pitchers to target

Padres dream trade: SP Kyle Gibson

Kyle Gibson rounds out the trio of pitchers who could make for a very good scenario for the Padres  in a possible deadline trade deal.

The Rangers’ 33-year-old starting pitcher has enjoyed quite a season so far in Texas, netting an All-Star Game invitation for the effort. Through 19 starts he has an ERA of 2.87 though a higher 3.75 FIP.

He has 94 strikeouts and 41 walks in 119 innings.

Gibson is in the middle of a three-year deal, earning the remainder of his $9 million 2021 salary and set to be paid $7 million in 2022. That gives some club control for a guy who could help round out the rotation for another year to come.

Whether he can maintain his gains in Texas remains to be seen, but a key factor has been keeping the ball in the park much better than in past years: His rate of home runs allowed per nine innings has been halved, based on allowing 9.9 home runs per 100 fly balls, down from 26.7 a year earlier and 14.3 for his career.

While the “dream” may not be as high as Scherzer, he’d be a step above several starters the Padres roll out routinely.