Padres might've just watched their next outfielder take them deep

Kyle Stowers recently began rubbing elbows with Padres players at the 2025 All-Star Game, where he was the only player representing the Miami Marlins due to his breakout year. The left-fielder has a batting average of .295 with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs. Now, on the heels of the Friars commencing their second road series from the All-Star Break, Stowers is once again on the same diamond as the Padres, albeit on the opposing side.

Although the Marlins plan to build around the 27-year-old slugger, they added intrigue around the league when the Bleacher Report quoted Jim Bowden of The Athletic, stating that the San Diego Padres were one of three teams that could potentially package a deal so stout, the Marlins would have no choice but to accept.

San Diego Padres may consider trading for Marlins' Kyle Stowers ahead of 2025 deadline

This latest report will surely have Friars fans buzzing as San Diego searches for big bats to inject into a talented but top-heavy lineup. Despite two grand slams in their prior series with the Washington Nationals, the Padres squeezed a 2-1 win over Miami in their first game of their current series on Monday, with the winning run coming from the heavily-criticized bottom of the order as Martín Maldonado doubled to score Jackson Merrill in the second inning. The Padres failed to score again.

With multiple Padres prospects to consider moving, could President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller package a deal for the magnanimous Stowers? The real test for Preller will be discerning which prospects he's willing to part with. The good news is that the San Diego farm system is stacked with talent that is producing from top to bottom, but the key is to not let go of a potential "diamond in the rough" for nothing. Know this, Stowers' recent play is upping the ante with each at bat, right in front of the Padres' dugout.

The Padres find themselves only 3.5 games back in the division with a win-now mentality. Kyle Stowers would not only "power-up" their lineup, but also solidify their outfield. Now it's A.J. Preller who is on deck to make the Marlins a deal he can't refuse.