5 prospects the Padres should consider trading at the deadline

The San Diego Padres are going to have to buy at the MLB trade deadline if they want to stay afloat in the NL Wild Card race. That means some players are also going to have to be traded away. Here are five prospects the Padres should consider trading if it means adding value to the team in 2025.

San Diego Padres' five prospects to consider trading ahead of 2025 deadline

1. Humberto Cruz, RHP, Padres No. 4 Prospect

Cruz has looked good in his first two starts in Single-A, but he struggled in the rookie leagues. In eight starts, he compiled a 0-4 record and an 8.31 ERA. It's still very early in the career of the 18-year-old, as he's not projected by MLB Pipeline to reach the big leagues until 2029. If another team wants to take a chance on the high-value prospect, the Padres might be wise to trade him while his value is highest.

2. Braden Nett, RHP, Padres No. 9 Prospect

The 23-year-old starting pitching prospect has performed well at each level of the minor leagues so far. He's currently in Double-A, where he has a 3.53 ERA in 16 starts. If a team is looking for a starting pitcher who is close to MLB-ready, Nett could be enticing. San Diego has not been very aggressive with his promotion throughout their farm, but perhaps a team looking for young pitching would be.

3. Rosman Verdugo, INF, Padres No. 24 Prospect

The Padres signed Verdugo out of Mexico in 2022, and he has worked his way up through their minor league system since then. He's putting up good numbers this year in High-A, with a .759 OPS in 80 games. That's mostly coming from a career-high .348 OBP. He's increased his walk rate and is hitting for more power, a good combination that could interest potential trade partners. His overall prospect grade is 40, making him more of a flier than a sure thing. He would not be the prize of any trade, but he could be the tipping point.

4. Carlos Alvarez, LHP, Padres No. 25 Prospect

Alvarez has started just seven games for the Padres' rookie league team. The 17-year-old, signed in January, has 14.1 professional innings to his name. There are already signs of trouble, however. Alvarez has a 0-2 record and a 10.43 ERA after his first seven starts. Not remotely encouraging. It's early, but maybe San Diego should trade him before he loses all of his value.

5. Lamar King Jr., C, Padres No. 29 Prospect

King, on the other hand, should see his value increasing after a strong start to the first half in Single-A. He's slashing .287/.379/.422, good for a .801 OPS. He's also stolen 15 bases, by far the most in his career. Catchers with that kind of speed and athleticism are rare, and there could be a team interested in King as a flier with upside.