4 MLB All-Stars who could be on the Padres by August 1

Of all the general managers that could be targeting the top of the market at this year's trade deadline, none of them have the reputation for splashy moves that San Diego Padres general manager AJ Preller does. The man loves action and he has already proven that the team's financial situation isn't holding him back much as he swung a fortuitous trade for Dylan Cease at the dawn of the season and then acquired Luis Arráez well after play had started in 2024.

It is fair to wonder how much more the Padres can do if they won't trade Ethan Salas or Leo De Vries, but the rumor mill continues to churn with San Diego mentioned as players for the big names that are potentially available.

Here is a look at some of the All-Stars that have at least a slim chance of wearing a Padres uniform by the conclusion of the trade deadline.

Tarik Skubal

Okay, let's get the most unlikely, but most exciting option out of the way first. San Diego is clearly interested in trading for an impact starting pitcher at the trade deadline. While getting a deal done appears to be next to impossible. there isn't a better arm that the Padres could theoretically trade for than Tarik Skubal.

The conventional wisdom right now is that the Tigers will (correctly) hold on to Skubal unless they get an insane package in return for him. The Padres could at least get their attention if they were willing to trade Salas and De Vries, but acquiring a Cy Young-level pitcher with team control through 2026 may require even more than that. Expect Preller to at least keep the lines of communication with Detroit open here, but it is likely that Skubal will remain a Tiger for a while longer.

Carlos Estevez

Adding bullpen help is on every contending team's to-do list at the trade deadline. While Robert Suarez has done a fantastic job closing games out and both Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon have been great as well, adding Angels reliever Carlos Estevez could take the Padres' bullpen to the next level.

Through 34 appearances this season, Estevez has posted a 2.38 ERA and 0.74 WHIP with both his fastball and slider getting high marks, especially after an early-season adjustment to his delivery. Estevez is a pending free agent, so he shouldn't be overly costly to acquire in trade. If San Diego can line up a move for him without jeopardizing their other deadline priorities, they should absolutely pounce.

Tyler Anderson

Estevez isn't the only Angels pitcher who fits the bill as an All-Star that could interest the Padres. While San Diego would really like to get one of the top arms available, they could do a lot worse than adding a guy who gives quality innings and has some team control like Angels starter Tyler Anderson.

Anderson is far from a perfect choice for the Padres. His strikeout rate is way down, he doesn't throw hard, and he is generally going to be dealing with baserunners given the amount of contact he gives up. However, Anderson possesses an elite changeup and is one of the better pitchers in baseball at getting weak contact, which would pair well with the Padres' strong infield defense. The Angels may have no choice but to move Anderson given the demand for starters at the deadline, and the Padres definitely could be a destination.

Garrett Crochet

This one was a gimme, but also can't be ignored here as the Padres' front office covets Crochet quite a bit. One can understand why San Diego wants him so badly as he has some of the best arm talent in all of baseball, is under team control the next two seasons, and has been absolutely dominant in 2024.

Clearly, the Padres haven't been deterred from Crochet just yet, but the latest wrinkle with him is that he would want a contract extension if asked to pitch in the playoffs, which could be a real problem. An extension may not be a total dealbreaker for the Padres as Crochet is good and Preller has been known to throw some money around, but the left-hander's injury history could make coming up with a number both sides are happy with pretty tough.

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