The San Diego Padres are staring down a challenging offseason as they attempt to stabilize a pitching staff that could look dramatically different next year. Two of their key rotation arms—Dylan Cease and Michael King—are currently on the free-agent market, creating the strong possibility that both could depart. Compounding the issue, veteran right-hander Yu Darvish will be unavailable after undergoing elbow surgery immediately following the season.
These losses leave San Diego with significant work to do before Opening Day. The front office must find ways to replenish its starting pitching depth, but the path forward is complicated. The Seidler family has begun evaluating options to sell the franchise, adding uncertainty to how aggressively the Padres can spend this winter and what overall strategy they intend to pursue. With so much unknown, the team still cannot afford to enter 2025 without adding reliable arms to the rotation.
One avenue the Padres may explore is the trade market, where several starting pitchers are already being discussed as potential targets. With the right mix of prospects or major-league talent, San Diego could pry away a starter capable of stabilizing the staff. That possibility brings Gavin Sheets into the spotlight. The infielder/outfielder’s positional flexibility and left-handed bat make him an appealing trade piece, and Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller has labeled him as the Padres’ most realistic trade candidate.
Miller spelled out the dilemma facing the organization, writing: “With the new wrinkle of the Seidler family potentially putting the team up for sale, goodness only knows what direction the Padres will try to go in this offseason. Could they trade away one (or more) of the core four (Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill) that are signed through at least 2033? Trading Sheets to hopefully bolster the rotation is probably the path of least resistance.”
Moving one of the “core four” would undoubtedly create major backlash among fans, given each is considered a foundational piece of the franchise’s long-term plan. That makes Sheets a far safer option to include in trade talks. While dealing him would cost San Diego one of its most adaptable players, it offers a realistic way to strengthen the rotation without disrupting the pillars of the roster.
As uncertainty swirls around ownership and roster construction, the Padres may find that leaning on movable pieces like Sheets is their most practical route to addressing the rotation shortage that threatens to define their offseason.