Padres should call Mets and explore trade possibility of surging veteran reliever

Every trade deadline conversation around the Padres sprints toward the biggest name on the board. In this case, it’s Tarik Skubal. Once a major bat rumor gets started, it’ll be that guy. But there’s also another path available. No, it’s not as sexy. But it might just be savvy enough to work.

Get on the phone and call the Mets. When they answer, ask about Luke Weaver. That’s not saying the Padres should abandon shopping for offense. They should do that too. But if they decide they won’t pay for starting pitching, then beefing up the bullpen becomes one of the best ways to stay in the win column.

At some point, the Padres need to be honest about who they are this season. They are a team with stars struggling on the offensive side. And they have a depleted farm system, so they can’t really throw a highly touted prospect at every problem. 

Weaver has been on one lately. In a stat provided by Joe DeMayo, he hasn’t allowed a run since April 30. In 17 appearances since then, he’s thrown 19 scoreless innings while allowing 10 hits, four walks and striking out 22.

With the Mets sitting dead last in the NL East (32-41), and he’s got trade chip written all over him. 

Luke Weaver would give the Padres a cleaner late-inning bridge

Trading for Weaver wouldn’t fix everything. This team still has to score runs. However, he’d fit right in with the Padres bullpen. 

If the Padres are going to keep leaning on their top arms in high-stress spots, they need more late-inning protection. Why not add another high-end piece to fend off the opposition instead of using the same few names every night. 

Weaver fits that need perfectly. He’s also been a starter before, and could even serve as a bridge reliever if the Padres needed. The question is whether the Padres can get involved without doing something completely reckless.

They shouldn’t move more premium prospect capital for a veteran reliever. Their farm system simply can’t afford it. 

Miguel Mendez becomes a fascinating name for this kind of move. He’s a nice, mid-tier prospect with strong upside. He clearly has enough talent for the Padres to protect him on the 40-man roster. But he still has command issues and hasn’t progressed to where the Padres expected him to be so far this season. He’s currently 2-2 with a 4.83 ERA, 33 strikeouts, and 14 walks across 31 2/3 innings for Double-A affiliate San Antonio.

That uncertainty is exactly what makes him valuable enough to headline a smaller deadline deal, but not so valuable that the Padres should walk away from a deal when his name comes up. 

If the Mets are serious about contending, they won’t subtract from their bullpen at all. But that would take some wild confidence with the direction they’re headed.

A young, power-armed pitcher like Mendez could be enough for them to make the move.

The money piece could make it more likely as well. And maybe San Diego can shed salary elsewhere. Either way, this team shouldn’t be operating like it has years to figure it out. The door is open, but it’s kind of being held by a doorstop. The Padres have had their chips pushed in for several seasons. So they really can’t be shy about these final swings.

The Padres should call the Mets. Ask about the price, and if the conversation stays in the mid-tier prospect range, they should stay on the line.

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