2 Padres trade rumors we hope come true, 1 we really hope does not

We are mere days away from the 2024 MLB trade deadline and the San Diego Padres are right in the middle of the market once again. As long as general manager AJ Preller is in charge (which could easily change if he fails to deliver for the Padres this season), the Padres are going to be wheeling and dealing even with the personnel and payroll challenges they now face.

What we know is that the Padres would like to swing big (within reason) and seem focused on the pitching trade market. Given the strength of San Diego's lineup especially once Fernando Tatis Jr. eventually returns and the market for position players being horrid, their approach is wise.

Unfortunately, the MLB trade market has been slow to develop as some teams are holding out hope that they can hang around in contention for a playoff spot. However, there have still been some high-profile names linked to the Padres ahead of the deadline despite the glacial pace. Here are a couple of the trades that would be fantastic gets for San Diego and one rumored name they should really avoid.

Obviously, the Padres trading for Garrett Crochet would be awesome

Let's get the elephant in the room out of the way first. Garrett Crochet is the most high-profile name that is definitely available on the trade market. He has big-time stuff, has been one of the best pitchers in baseball so far, and comes with years of team control. Given the Padres' need for pitching depth and Preller's reputation for flashy moves, it isn't surprising that the Padres have pushed for him ahead of the deadline.

There are real concerns/risks with Crochet, though. He is coming off an arm injury and may need his innings limited this year with a move to the bullpen. However, the Padres' short-handed rotation is playing well. Once Joe Musgrove and/or Yu Darvish return, quality pitching depth would be awesome to have for this year. Then, Crochet can be built up for the following two seasons as a potential ace.

San Diego really needs to avoid settling for a Jesus Luzardo trade

The one thing the Padres can't do at the trade deadline is make a big move that turns out to be a dud. San Diego is limited both by their payroll and a relative lack of prospect depth. If San Diego uses its limited resources only for that investment to fall flat, it would be a massive disappointment and could cost them dearly. One name that feels like a mistake in waiting is Jesus Luzardo.

So far, the Padres have only been somewhat connected to Luzardo, which is good news. Not only does Luzardo have a troubling injury history (including this season), he just hasn't been very good this year. He has pitched to a 5.00 ERA with a declining strikeout rate in 12 starts this season. There was a time when Luzardo was a highly-prized arm, but the Padres are asking for trouble if he is the arm they are betting on for the second half.

Tyler Anderson would be a nice fallback option for the Padres

The fundamental reality is that every team could use someone like Crochet on their roster, and the White Sox are understandably putting a crazy price tag on him. However, that means that San Diego needs to have other options to fall back on if their pursuit of Crochet gets too crazy for their liking. One trade option for the Padres that has been floated by some experts is a move for Angels starter Tyler Anderson.

Anderson does not have as good of stuff as Crochet or as much team control. However, he has a sub-3.00 ERA through 20 starts this season, just made his second All-Star team, and is under team control through 2025. His changeup is a difference-making pitch and he is great at getting soft contact (even if his fastball velo prevents him from getting much swing and miss). No trade target is perfect at the deadline, but San Diego could do a lot worse that plugging Anderson into their rotation to give them quality innings.

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