4 Padres players who won’t survive roster past MLB trade deadline

Right now, the San Diego Padres are firmly in the position of being buyers at the trade deadline. Not only are they among the favorites to snag a wild card spot in the National League, but it would probably be unwise to completely discount their chances in the NL West, especially if the Dodgers falter in the second half.

Given the Padres' recent success, expecting some excitement at the trade deadline is probably a fair guess. We have already seen signs that San Diego's front office is pushing hard for Garrett Crochet, and there are any number of potential targets that would boost the Padres' chances for a playoff run.

However, with such an aggressive approach expected, that means some guys who are currently on the Padres' roster aren't going to make the cut going forward. Here is a look at some of the Padres players who may not survive the aftermath of the 2024 trade deadline.

Randy Vasquez

Vasquez was one of the players that came over in the Juan Soto trade and the hope was that he would provide San Diego with some depth in their rotation. While he has technically been that with Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove out, Vasquez's limitations have also become abundantly clear along the way.

While Vasquez has been serviceable with a 4.66 ERA in 12 starts this season, he may not be long for the Padres' rotation. San Diego already optioned him to the minors once this season before injuries forced them to bring him back, and his inability to miss bats does not bode well for his future as a starter. If San Diego adds rotation help and gets Darvish and/or Musgrove soon, Vasquez is likely to be the odd man out.

Stephen Kolek

The Padres' bullpen has been a middling unit in 2024, and bringing in some depth is going to be a priority for the San Diego front office (along with basically every other contender). Unfortunately, that may not be great news for Stephen Kolek.

Overall, Kolek has been very mediocre this season with a 4.32 ERA and without much in the way of the ability to miss bats. Right-handed relievers with that profile are a dime a dozen, and with his more recent struggles Kolek could find his roster spot getting upgraded by the Padres at the deadline with an arm with more upside.

David Peralta

With star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. out with a stress reaction, the Padres have had to figure things out in their outfield during his absence. However, it has been very telling that the team has been giving Bryce Johnson and his .530 OPS playing time over veteran David Peralta, who the Padres decided to sign back in May, before this past week of action.

As a bench piece, the Padres could do a lot worse than having Peralta around providing guidance to their young players. However, he just isn't going to see the field after putting up an 87 wRC+ and being a net negative in the field. Odds are that the Padres pick up a bench bat that can slot in in more situations, and that could mean Peralta gets his walking papers.

Enyel De Los Santos

Heading back to the Padres' bullpen, Enyel De Los Santos has been getting a bit lucky this year. While he has been striking guys out, he has also been giving up a lot of hard contact and his 5.53 FIP suggests a fair bit of good fortune that he has been able to post a 4.75 ERA this year.

It is tempting to try and keep a guy like De Los Santos, who has good stuff and misses bats, but he just gives up so much damage and is a prime candidate to regress in the second half. San Diego would be better served going for a more reliable arm, especially another lefty, than hoping that De Los Santos can turn into something.

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