3 players the San Diego Padres can trade while still remaining competitive in 2023

3) The San Diego Padres could trade Nick Martinez and still remain competitive in 2023

Martinez has been pretty successful since returning stateside with the Padres after a few years pitching overseas in Japan. So far in 2023, the right-hander has a 3.94 ERA and 4.22 FIP across 33 relief appearances.

Martinez, like Wacha, is only guaranteed this season on his contract with San Diego. The remaining years before he'll once again reach free agency are club options, which the Padres could conceivably pick up. Having those options could act as leverage in trade talks with other teams.

But why would the Padres deal Martinez? Firstly, he's not a lock for the 2024 team. Notice the motif here? It's all about reloading for next season if the team decides to pivot and sell. Additionally, he's got enough surface value where another team might be intrigued to slot him in as a swing man (he does have starting experience in the big leagues), which would make him more valuable to another club than he is to the Padres, where at most he's a bulk reliever.

Again, the Padres are merely "open for business." There's no telling for sure whether they'll buy, sell or do both in July. For now, though, it's on the players to determine how the circumstances surrounding this team will unfold leading up to the the trade deadline.