Padres Linked To Postseason Star Amid Starting Rotation Questions

The San Diego Padres have a pivotal offseason ahead of them after falling to the Milwaukee Brewers in four games in the NLDS. Despite another season with over 90 wins and postseason baseball, it’s back to the drawing board yet again.

San Diego has several players crucial to its late-season stretch set to hit free agency in the coming weeks. If it wants to have a season on par with last, or gear up for a lengthier run in the postseason, President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller has his work cut out for him this winter.

Preller’s priority this offseason has to be bringing in starting pitching. Michael King can opt out of his deal, Nick Pivetta has a club option for 2027, and trade deadline acquisitions Casey Mize and Robbie Ray are hitting the open market alongside Walker Buehler. Essentially, the Padres’ starting rotation at this current moment is a complete unknown.

Even assuming King and Pivetta are brought back, that still leaves the rotation with at least two open spots left from departing starters in 2027. With their glaring need for help, it’s no surprise Bleacher Report chose a move for a starting pitcher as the Padres’ most likely trade of their offseason.

Specifically, the BR article named Tampa Bay Rays’ right-hander Drew Rasmussen as the ‘prime target’. Rasmussen has been one of baseball’s best since the turn of the decade, and he has one more season before hitting free agency himself, assuming the Rays pick up his $20 million option for 2027.

An All-Star in back-to-back seasons now, Rasmussen had his best year yet in 2026, posting a 2.67 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 172 innings. At 31 years old, the righty walked just 32 batters all season long compared to his 174 punchouts, earning him the best SO/BB ratio in the American League at 5.44.

Rasmussen’s addition to San Diego would undoubtedly lift its ceiling not just because of his regular-season numbers, but because his dominance in the postseason has been even more impressive. In three starts this postseason, Rasmussen has allowed just three runs and struck out 23 batters across 21 innings.

Adding Rasmussen’s arm to the Padres rotation would help give them that boost they need to make a deeper push, but it would come at a hefty price. The Rays pitcher’s value is soaring with each start, and despite being under contract for just one more season, the Padres would have to give up a strong package to land him.

There are, of course, other options both via free agency and the trade market that Preller and the Padres can target instead of a top dog like Rasmussen, but it’s hard not to drool at the thought of him in a San Diego uniform. If somebody is going to do it, why not the same Preller who has already shown that he’s willing to include baseball’s best prospects in a package to land a star?