The San Diego Padres could look to the trade market to stabilize their rotation, and one potential option may come from the New York Mets. After losing Dylan Cease and facing the likely departure of Michael King, San Diego is in need of reliable, affordable starting pitching. That context makes Mets left-hander David Peterson an appealing target.
MLB insider Tim Britton of The Athletic has confirmed a one-for-one swap that would send Peterson to San Diego in exchange for outfielder Ramon Laureano. “San Diego and Laureano present an intriguing fit,” Britton wrote. “The Padres already have lost Dylan Cease and are likely to lose King, so they need starting pitching. Even more importantly, the Padres need good, inexpensive starting pitching, and Peterson fits that bill.”
Peterson has established himself as a durable option, making at least 20 starts in each of the last three seasons. He surpassed 30 starts last year and posted a strong 2.90 ERA two seasons ago, showing he can handle a regular workload every five days. For a Padres team looking to fill innings without committing major payroll resources, that consistency carries value.
From the Mets’ perspective, Laureano could address a pressing need in the outfield. New York is searching for answers after trading Brandon Nimmo on Nov. 24, and while Jeff McNeil could theoretically slide into the role, his own name has surfaced in trade speculation. President of baseball operations David Stearns appears focused on reshaping the roster after the Mets missed the playoffs, and dealing from a surplus area could be part of that plan.
Laureano would step into the outfield void immediately. “Laureano would fill the outfield void the Mets created with the Nimmo trade,” Britton wrote. Like Peterson, Laureano has one year of affordable control remaining, earning $6.5 million in 2025. He is also coming off the best offensive season of his career, slashing .281/.342/.512 with a 136 OPS+.
Adding Laureano would give the Mets another right-handed bat after a lineup that leaned heavily left-handed last season, a balance the team already began addressing with the acquisition of Marcus Semien. Laureano could handle left field while allowing the Mets to rely on a Tyrone Taylor and Carson Benge pairing in center or pursue a bigger move in free agency, such as Cody Bellinger.
Ultimately, the proposed deal aligns with the needs of both clubs. The Padres would add a dependable starter to shore up their rotation, while the Mets would land an everyday outfielder with pop at a reasonable cost. If both front offices believe the swap improves their respective rosters for next season, it is a trade that could realistically come together.