San Diego Padres rumors: 2 elite starting pitchers on the team's radar

With just hours remaining until the clock strikes 6 p.m. ET, the San Diego Padres are mounting a trade deadline day push for two elite starting pitchers.

According to multiple MLB insiders, the Padres are targeting New York Mets' right-hander Justin Verlander and Detroit Tigers' southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez.

San Diego Padres rumors: Team making a trade deadline day push for Justin Verlander, Eduardo Rodriguez

This comes off the heels of San Diego being linked to Minnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach as GM A.J. Preller and company turn their focus to potential upgrades for the stretch run.

Of course, it goes without saying how significant the impact of Justin Verlander or Eduardo Rodriguez would be with respect the Padres' rotation, which does have a few holes. Between Michael Wacha's injury and Yu Darvish's inconsistency, San Diego has few reliable options behind stalwarts Joe Musgrove and Blake Snell. Seth Lugo has stepped up, but would you trust him in a short playoff series over the grizzled Verlander or veteran Rodriguez?

It's worth noting that the rival Los Angeles Dodgers have also demonstrated interest in these veteran hurlers, which makes the Padres' sudden interest in these same arms quite peculiar, or might we even say, petty? It's no coincidence, that much we'll divulge given recent history between the two clubs.

Nonetheless, San Diego is just a game ahead of the Mets in the NL Wild Card standings as of August 1, which leaves us skeptical that New York would deal its ace to a team they're still technically chasing. And in regards to Rodriguez (and to a degree with Verlander), it's unlikely that the Padres have the prospect capital to entice the Tigers and Mets, respectively.

But A.J. Preller has illustrated his aggressiveness before, and could certainly get creative in devising a package suitable enough to acquire one of these aces before the deadline.