Padres 2025 trade rumors: 1 dream scenario, 1 savvy play, & 1 to avoid altogether

With less than three weeks left until we hit the 2025 MLB trade deadline, Padres fans can expect their club to make a move at some point, although no one is 100 percent sure of what they will do.

The Friars have a few boxes to check off to bolster their roster, headlined by needing a left fielder. The Padres would be smart to try and add another starting pitcher, too. Targeting a catcher wouldn't hurt, either. There are plenty of avenues that San Diego can pursue, so let's take a look at one dream trade scenario, one savvy move, and one that the Padres must avoid.

Padres' trade deadline dream scenario: Acquire Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran

A Southern California native, the 28-year-old Duran would be the perfect match for the Padres. He's been linked to the organization by several outlets, because well, it makes way too much sense.

With Boston already getting rid of Rafael Devers, who knows what they plan to do with the rest of their players in their late 20s. Also, with Roman Anthony getting called up, this has opened the floodgates of Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu trade rumors.

San Diego has struggled with consistency in left field this season, so adding Duran will definitely patch up that blemish. A .260 hitter, Duran has recorded 42 extra-base hits this season, including a league-best 10 triples.

Padres' trade deadline savvy play: Acquire Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara

Alcantara, 29, is in desperate need to get out of Miami. With him not having his strongest season in 2025, his trade stock has dipped a bit, which means it's time for the Padres to pounce on the opportunity.

The 2022 Cy Young Award winner has seen an uptick in usage of his four-seam fastball, which has turned into him allowing the most earned runs in the National League this year. His sinker-changeup tandem has always been what's made him elite, so maybe pitching coach Ruben Niebla can get him back on track.

Alcantara wouldn't necessarily be viewed as a project, but a guy who would need to adjust on the fly and contribute to a rotation that's been punched by injuries (and Dylan Cease being inconsistent). He's more than capable of doing that.

Padres' trade deadline scenario to avoid: Giving away too much

A.J. Preller and his front office staff are known to be active when it comes to trades, but they are also infamous for trading away way too many top-end prospects. There is a world where the Padres could acquire good players, such as Duran or Alcantara, without giving up their best minor leaguers.

Leo De Vries and Ethan Salas are two hitting prospects who should be stowed away and never mentioned in a trade talk. San Diego has given up too much of that lately, like James Wood and CJ Abrams.

So, if Preller does not give away one of these guys, maybe another route to take is eating the salary of the guy they acquire. Or, they can look to trade away a player who might not even be on the team after this year (Luis Arraez, although he's been solid lately).

Regardless of what San Diego does at the trade deadline, it might be fair to give Preller the benefit of the doubt right now. He seems like he may have learned from past mistakes of trading away too many top prospects. We'll just have to wait and see.