The Padres saw one of their top trade targets fall through on Sunday, as the St. Louis Cardinals traded Willson Contreras to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for right-hander Hunter Dobbins and a pair of pitching prospects in Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita.

The Padres have been trying to fill their first basemen vacancy for quite some time now, as the team expects both of their 2025 options in Luis Arráez and Ryan O’Hearn to depart in search of more money. Contreras was viewed by many as a top trade target who could fill in the role seamlessly.

Padres’ next big move could come from the Cardinals’ latest roster shakeup

The move means that San Diego will have to evaluate other options at first base, but the team also has needs at starting pitcher and catcher. The truth is, the Cardinals are a team that is set to blow the roster up and rebuild. So why not phone in again and inquire about someone else in the organization?

We have flirted with the idea of the Padres making a trade for second baseman Brendan Donovan; the options are extensive, and the team could make a move for anyone they find appealing.

You’ve seen it before: the Padres will go above and beyond for bullpen help, even when you think they’ve got it all. We saw this at the trade deadline when President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller went all in and acquired Mason Miller.

The team lost Robert Suárez in free agency to the Atlanta Braves, as they inked the hard-throwing right-hander to a three-year, $45 million contract. 

While the Padres still have Miller on top of Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, and Adrian Morejón, it would not be a surprise if Preller were to bring in another bullpen arm to add depth.

Regarding the Cardinals’ roster, they are set to see left-hander JoJo Romero hit free agency after 2026, and it would be smart for them to get ahead of an inevitable departure.

In 2025, Romero tossed a career high 61 innings, paired with his lowest ERA he’s ever had (2.07). While he doesn’t throw exceptionally hard (a trait that the Padres value), he has an excellent slider and generates a high number of ground balls (57.1% ground ball rate).

Aside from Morejón, the Padres don’t really have any quality left-handers in the bullpen. Adding Romero would change that narrative.

While San Diego didn’t get “the guy” they initially had on their radar in Willson Contreras, don’t expect the team to shy away just yet when negotiating with the Cardinals, as they are 100% listening in on players like Romero, who are on expiring contracts.