Joe Musgrove makes Padres return stance clear after Casey Mize, Robbie Ray trades

A.J. Preller spent the trade deadline doing what he said he would: buying innings. Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta didn’t take that as permission to relax. Musgrove’s reaction to the Padres acquiring Casey Mize and Robbie Ray meant he needed to keep his foot on the gas.

“Mentally, I don’t think it changes a whole lot with how I’m pushing to get back,” Musgrove told 97.3 The Fan. “I want to be back as soon as possible, especially now that I’m feeling physically capable of it.”

The arrivals of Mize and Ray definitely provides some relief. Mize joined the Padres with a 2.70 ERA through 16 starts, while Ray brought a 3.08 ERA and 107 strikeouts over 122 2/3 innings. Those moves gave the staff some actual structure. And Musgrove acknowledged that.

“It provides a little bit of mental relief,” he said. “It’s not like we’re wearing our bullpen out every day, and now we’ve got some starters in there that can throw some innings and get some length out of it.”

He made it perfectly clear that Mize and Ray haven’t changed his objective. He wants as many outings as possible before the Padres reach the tail end of the postseason race. Musgrove clearly isn’t looking to make any ceremonial appearances. He wants to jump in and help the team by pitching big innings down the stretch. This is the same hometown guy who threw the first no-hitter in franchise history. He’s earned a different level of trust in the organization.

Joe Musgrove wants innings before the Padres’ postseason push

Mize, Ray, and Michael King can protect the Padres from having to depend entirely on Musgrove’s comeback. But they can’t replace the impact a healthy Musgrove would have on the team, its fans, and the organization in October.

For Musgrove, wanting to return and being ready to return are two completely different things. His competitiveness is exactly what the team should want, but rushing his elbow could be detrimental. The Padres have to make the final call based on what his body tells them, not how loudly he wants to accelerate his schedule.

Still, there is something encouraging about hearing Musgrove talk this way. He sounds like a pitcher preparing to contribute.

“But it’s not like having them is allowing me to kind of ease off the gas,” Musgrove said. “I’m still pushing to get back as soon as possible.”

Great. Message received. The Padres added Mize and Ray to stabilize the present. Musgrove is still pushing to become part of their finish. If his body cooperates, Preller’s deadline haul will have built a rotation strong enough to welcome him back.

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