In 2025, the San Diego Padres had one of the most frenzied trade deadlines in recent memory. General Manager A.J. Preller traded away 14 players and brought eight onto the club. In total, five trades were made with different teams. 

One of these trades saw San Diego’s top prospect (and MLB’s No. 3 at the time), Leo De Vries, leave the club in order to get one of the most dominant relief weapons in all of baseball. Looking back on these trades a little under a year later, let’s grade each of them on how they’ve fared thus far.

Looking Back at the Padres’ 2025 Trade Deadline Moves
A Surprising Addition to the Farm

The Friars traded away bench outfielder Brandon Lockridge for Nestor Cortes and shortstop prospect Jorge Quintana. Cortes was decent in his time with San Diego, putting up a 5.47 ERA in six starts for the club.

Quintana is the interesting get. The young prospect has plenty of upside and has a serviceable arm at short. His bat is not as good thus far in the minors, but his underlying metrics show something could begin to come out. 

For not paying a lot, the Padres added to their rotation depth for the ‘25 playoff run and helped bolster their somewhat-depleted farm.

Grade: A

Some Help Behind the Plate

The catching situation in San Diego prior to the deadline was abysmal, to say the least. The tandem of Elias Díaz and Martín Maldonado was one of the worst in baseball. 

To rectify that, Preller traded young starters Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert to the Kansas City Royals for backup catcher Freddy Fermin. And what an addition he was.

His defense and offense were well above-average for a catcher, and being under club control until 2030 certainly helps. He raked in the postseason for the club, hitting .364 in the series against the Chicago Cubs. 

The only problem was the payment. Kolek and Bergert are blossoming young pitchers with lots of potential. Dealing both hurlers for a catcher is difficult to justify, but with him being the anchor of the catching group for the next three years, it seems worth it.

Grade: B+

Two Birds (Orioles) With One Stone

In the largest deal of the San Diego deadline, the Baltimore Orioles sent All-Star Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano to the Friars for six prospects (three in the Padres’ top 20). 

The deal immediately bolstered a lineup that had been seriously lacking in production. It gave the Padres a clear option in left field after having the worst production in MLB at the position, and a clear DH/1B platoon option. 

With Laureano staying on board to fill out the San Diego outfield, this deal is worth it, even though O’Hearn eventually left in free agency. The prospect haul is large, yes, but they’re still valuable pickups. 

Whether or not Laureano can build on his best year in recent years remains to be seen, but his glove in left is fantastic, and he’s always had above-average production (career 114 wRC+).

Grade: A-

Filling Out the Bench Depth

The Padres gave up prospect Brandon Valenzuela to the Toronto Blue Jays for infielder depth piece (and the son of Hall of Famer Billy Wagner), Will Wagner. Wagner doesn’t flash anything particularly impressive, but he’s a great addition to bolster offensive depth.

His glove in the infield is fantastic, and he’s a good utility option around the diamond. The bat isn’t great, but that’s alright, it doesn’t need to be. 

He’ll definitely start this season in the minors for San Diego, but could factor in as an addition at the big-league level from any injuries or departures that may come up later. The Padres could easily give him some pinch-hit opportunities as a serviceable lefty bat.

Grade: B 

The Blockbuster with the A’s

The Athletics traded away elite closer Mason Miller alongside the serviceable JP Sears for headliner De Vries and three other top-20 Padres’ prospects. 

I need to preface this by saying that I adore Miller. He is one of the most dominant (if not the most dominant) pitchers in MLB. His tenure with San Diego has been incredible thus far. 

Combined between the regular season, the playoffs, and his time on Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, opposing batters are 0-for-50 against him since September 8. 

But…De Vries continues to look more and more like he’s poised for a major breakout. He’s been raking this spring, putting up a slash line of .409/.447/.682. 

And yes, Miller is fantastic, but paying an arm and a leg in prospects for a guy who only gets three outs and a (barely) serviceable starter is not a move I’d make again. Especially when San Diego has as deep a bullpen as they do. 

Am I mad about the trade? No. Miller is incredible, and he fills the hole left by Robert Suarez (and then some). But it’s not one I would make again.

Grade: C+

 

Main Photo Credit: © David Frerker-Imagn Images