Padres should make a strong push for A’s controllable arms

Ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, the San Diego Padres need to address their starting rotation concerns. Dylan Cease and Michael King are both free agents at the conclusion of this season, all while Cease hasn't been his typical self in 2025, and King has been hurt.

San Diego has plenty of options to comb through, whether it be going after a former Cy Young winner, or talking with a team destined to be sellers by the end of next week.

One team the Friars should not overlook talking trades with is the A's, who are reportedly listening to offers on two left-handed starters in JP Sears and Jeffrey Springs.

Padres could target A's southpaws JP Sears and Jeffrey Springs

Sears, 29, has three more years left of control, but also provides some tremendous upside. His walk rate is solid, and he generally can pitch through the fifth inning.

His conventional metrics are not as impressive as either of the past two seasons, so maybe a team like the Padres could trade for him without giving up too much. Sears' biggest problem in 2025 has been consistency. He will toss two gems in a row, but then hand in a clunker or two following those outings.

But still, he could be a strong trade candidate for San Diego.

As for Springs, the 32-year-old has a contract through 2026 with a 2027 team option, so it makes sense for the A's to want to part ways with him. Springs has not quite reached his peak form since undergoing Tommy John surgery a few years ago, which the A's have been unable to piece him fully back together.

A fastball-dominant left-hander, Springs currently has 90 strikeouts, which is the second-highest of his career (144 in 2022). He was auditioning well for other teams in June and July up until his last start on July 20 against the Guardians, when he allowed five runs in four innings. Prior to that, he had lowered his season ERA from 4.72 to 3.93 across eight starts.

Would Sears or Springs put the Padres over the top in the playoffs? Perhaps not, but they could provide some stability towards the middle of the rotation. Those roles matter, too, especially in the postseason.