Projecting a Yankees-Padres trade that would make dealing Jeremiah Estrada worth it

If the Padres are seriously considering trading Jeremiah Estrada, it cannot be about saving money or collecting prospects from the Yankees. If the San Diego Padres are going to move one of their better relievers, the return needs to solve an actual problem. That brings us to Jasson Domínguez.

Here’s the deal we would put on the table:

Yankees receive: RHP Jeremiah Estrada
Padres receive: OF Jasson Domínguez

We can argue over a lower-level throw-in, but this should be the framework. New York gets the late-inning strikeout arm it needs. San Diego gets a 23-year-old switch-hitting outfielder with speed, power upside and several seasons of club control. That’s the kind of trade that could justify subtracting from the Padres’ bullpen.

The Padres should demand talent, not financial relief

Estrada is not expensive enough for salary relief to even drive this conversation. He’s projected to earn approximately $1.3 million in his first year of arbitration, and he remains under club control for three more seasons.

That contract has value alongside his arm talent, when he’s healthy. Estrada was limited to 31 innings by knee and shoulder trouble in 2026, but he still struck out 38 batters while producing a 3.48 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP and a .183 opponents’ batting average. Those numbers were ordinary by the ridiculous standard he established in 2025, when he struck out 108 hitters over 73 innings, but the underlying attraction remains the same.

He’s not a simple middle reliever the Padres should flip just because. Estrada can be a key reliever down the stretch of a season for any contender. If San Diego trades that, it needs a player with enough upside to make an impact going into 2027.

Jasson Domínguez is imperfect, which is why he might be available

We’re not going to sell Domínguez as some kind of finished product. He slashed .225/.267/.368 with six home runs and a .635 OPS in 57 major-league games during 2026. His average exit velocity dropped to 88.1 mph, while his hard-hit rate fell from 49.6 percent in 2025 to 39.1 percent.

His numbers tell us that the trade could be a risk. And they also explain why the Yankees might entertain the deal. The appeal for San Diego is what Domínguez still offers beyond one uneven season. He stole eight bases in limited major-league action after swiping 23 in 2025. His strikeout rate improved from 26.8 percent to 21.6. Although the switch-hitter struggled badly against right-handed pitching, he batted .275 with a .735 OPS against lefties.

More importantly, Domínguez remains only 23. He has played all three outfield positions, possesses legitimate physical tools and isn’t due to reach free agency until after the 2030 season. The Yankees repeatedly optioned him to Triple-A in 2026, and he’s been identified as a potential trade chip this offseason.

That is the opening the Padres could exploit.

Will Warren would be better, and probably too expensive

Will Warren would make the most sense here. That’s obvious. Their rotation needs dependable, controllable innings, and a young major-league starter would be the cleanest possible return for Estrada.

The Yankees are not likely to make that exchange. New York can find relievers without sacrificing a controllable starter, especially when Estrada just completed an injury-shortened season. Asking for Warren turns an interesting negotiation into a short phone call.

Domínguez sits in the sweet spot. His pedigree and remaining control make the return worthwhile for San Diego, while his inconsistent production and uncertain role make him movable for New York.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow