Padres’ Trevor Gott signing could protect playoff bullpen he can’t join

Trevor Gott cannot pitch for the Padres in October. It might be part of the point of this signing. The Padres added the 34-year-old righty to a minor-league contract Tuesday and assigned him to Triple-A El Paso. Because Gott joined the organization after the Aug. 31 postseason eligibility deadline, even an injury-replacement petition can’t open a spot for him on the playoff roster.

But still, A.J. Preller may have found someone who can help protect the weapons they already have. The Padres’ bullpen entered September with a 3.51 ERA and an MLB-best 7.6 fWAR. Mason Miller has been ridiculous all season long. Adrian Morejon has been one of baseball’s best setup men. Bradgley Rodríguez and Yuki Matsui have given Craig Stammen additional options beyond the big names.

They have no shortage of talent coming out of the pen, but it’s the 2026 mileage that may become an issue. Morejon has already worked 78 2/3 innings across 68 appearances. Rodríguez is up to 65 1/3 innings, more than he has ever thrown in a professional season. Miller has done his own heavy lifting while Jeremiah Estrada and Jason Adam have dealt with injuries.

Meanwhile, their starting rotation entered September with a 4.36 ERA, ranked 20th in baseball. Short starts have turned a great bullpen into a heavily used one, and that’s why Gott could become an important piece down the stretch if they need him.

Trevor Gott’s value to the Padres would come before October

His 3.55 ERA at Triple-A Rochester looks fine. His 27 strikeouts against 15 walks in 33 innings are a little less convincing. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2023, missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgery and was released by Washington’s Triple-A affiliate on July 2. Gott is far from a high-leverage option.

His value would come earlier. Maybe the fifth inning after a starter gets knocked out. Two innings when a lead stretches beyond the need of a closer. Those outs still have to come from somebody, and every one Gott records is an out that wouldn’t need to be chased by a bigger name.

This is all hypothetical. Gott isn’t on the 40-man roster, and the Padres would have to create room on both the 40-man and 28-man rosters to use him. He also needs to show El Paso that two months away from affiliated baseball haven’t left him rusty.

The Padres entered Wednesday a half-game behind Arizona for the final NL Wild Card spot. There are no disposable games right now. Meaning Stammen cannot toss a rusty veteran into a high leverage spot simply because everyone else needs a night off.

Gott began his professional career as a Padres sixth-round pick in 2013 before being included in the Huston Street trade a year later. The reunion is a fun footnote. Nostalgia, however, isn’t going to get them a playoff spot.

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