San Diego sacrificed veteran German Marquez to finalize a blockbuster rotation overhaul, betting on newly acquired Cy Young winner Robbie Ray to ignite their late-season postseason push.
The smoke has cleared from the 2026 trade deadline, and the San Diego Padres now have their sights set fully on playing postseason baseball this October. Choosing the path of buyers at the deadline, there have been some residual shockwaves in the roster after the chaos.
Trading for two starting pitchers in righty Casey Mize and lefty Robbie Ray in exchange for minor leaguers opened up a need for roster space, and the Padres announced the necessary moves to finalize the trade earlier today.
Right-handed starter German Marquez has been designated for assignment by San Diego as Ray to allow room for Ray on the active roster. In a separate move, reliever Matt Waldron has been claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays after being designated for assignment himself last week.
After spending his entire 10-year career with the Colorado Rockies, Marquez signed with the Padres last February. With concerns about the depth of San Diego’s rotation, the veteran was brought in to add some cushion in the back end.
Marquez pitched in 13 games for the Friars, 10 of which came as starts. Despite finally leaving Coors Field, the 31-year-old struggled in San Diego, posting a 5.26 ERA and 6.61 FIP across his 53 innings tossed. He also recorded his highest walk and home run per nine numbers of his career during his short stint with the Padres.
His DFA makes room for the former Cy Young winner in Ray, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for prospects RHP Miguel Mendez and SS Joniel Hernandez. A two-time All-Star with a 3.08 ERA this season, Ray’s addition to the starting rotation in San Diego provides huge relief.
Ray, along with fellow trade acquisition Mize, completes a Padres rotation that, at full health, includes Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove, and Michael King. Randy Vasquez and Walker Buehler will offer some help in the rotation as both Pivetta and Musgrove ramp up their rehab, with their returns to the mound expected by or around the end of the month.
The previously mentioned Waldron will now join a Blue Jays squad that is just 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in the American League. Baseball’s only active knuckleballer struggled in the majors with San Diego this season, as evidenced by his 7.16 ERA, but his 1.33 ERA in Triple-A indicates there might be some left in the tank for the 29-year-old.
San Diego is currently four games above .500 heading into tonight’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, one of the teams currently ahead of them in the Wild Card race. Now that the roster is getting set, the Padres can now focus on the only thing that matters ahead – doing whatever it takes to earn a postseason spot.
