Padres might regret letting the perfect deadline fit slip away

The MLB trade deadline is just over 24 hours away, and the San Diego Padres haven't done much yet to rectify their roster needs. One of their most glaring blemishes is in left field, although they did (unsuccessfully) try to make a deal with the Red Sox to nab Jarren Duran.

There are still plenty of other options out there for San Diego, whether it be an All-Star like Steven Kwan, or maybe an under-the-radar move in Ramon Laureano. Either way, the Padres need to do something, and perhaps they could shift their focus onto Twins' super utility man Willi Castro, who several teams are currently interested in.

Padres would benefit from trading with Twins to acquire Willi Castro

The 28-year-old Castro seems to be a popular deadline get for many teams, led by the Astros. Just about every team making a playoff push is having some sort of conversation about Castro, and who could blame them? He has an elite arm, well-above-average speed, above-average batting run value, and can play almost any position - including left field.

Castro has appeared in 36 games in left field in 2025, and has logged 161 contests at the position throughout his career. He's also manned second base plenty this season, and has even gotten 13 games in at third base as well. If the Padres need to give Manny Machado or Jake Cronenworth a day off, Castro would be a tremendous replacement for that day.

Castro has cooled off a bit at the plate in July, but at the end of June, he was batting in the .280s. He is hitting .202 in July, which has dipped his average by about 40 points, which could only mean that he is due to turn things back around.

Another upside to Castro is that he would be a rental, and he wouldn't cost San Diego much money. Yes, they would probably have to let a couple of top prospects go, but it likely wouldn't be any of the club's Top 5-10 prospects.

An All-Star in 2024, Castro's numbers are better in 2025 despite the offensive dip this month. His OPS+ (109) and his OPS (.762) are both higher this season than in 2024. Castro would be a great fit with the Padres, but that sentiment is true for several teams. San Diego should consider making a deal for him before it's too late.