SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres are prioritizing starting pitching acquisitions at the 2026 trade deadline, according to MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand. This focus comes as the team addresses rotation injuries and a low-ranking offensive performance.

Feinsand identified starting pitching help as the Padres' most pressing trade deadline need. He noted the team's 4.51 rotation ERA, which ranks 12th in the National League, and that 12 different starters have been used this season due to various injuries. "Yet another team in the market for pitching depth, the Padres rank 12th in the NL with a 4.51 rotation ERA, using 12 starters this season thanks to a number of injury issues," Feinsand wrote.

As of June 30, the Padres were one game back of the third National League Wild Card spot. Pitchers Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta are currently on the Padres' roster. The team's offense has a .663 team OPS, which is the lowest in Major League Baseball. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado have combined for 18 home runs, with Machado contributing 15 of those.

Feinsand suggested that Michael Wacha or Seth Lugo could be viable targets for the Padres, considering a large acquisition like Tarik Skubal might be unlikely. "Adding a starter such as Michael Wacha or Seth Lugo could make sense, considering the Padres are unlikely to make the big splash for a top arm like Tarik Skubal," Feinsand added. Skubal is a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner and has a 3.32 ERA in 10 starts this season, with 66 strikeouts in 59 2/3 innings, though he missed time earlier in the season due to elbow surgery. Skubal is also a pending free agent.

MLB.com reporter Thomas Harrigan also identified Casey Mize as a trade candidate. Mize has a 2.95 ERA in 11 starts this season and is a pending free agent, though he has been on the injured list twice this season. "Skubal isn't the only intriguing trade candidate in Detroit's rotation," Harrigan writes. "There's also Mize, who, like Skubal, is a pending free agent."

In other team news, the San Diego Padres agreed to a minor league contract with Nick Solak, who will report to Triple-A El Paso. Solak, 31, made four appearances with the Padres in the Majors in 2026, recording one hit and one RBI in 10 plate appearances. Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors wrote about Solak's Triple-A performance: "Dating back to the start of the 2024 season, he has a .325/.410/.482 line and 133 wRC+ at the Triple-A level." Solak spent parts of his first four career seasons with the Texas Rangers, playing a career-high 127 games in 2021 with 11 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .677 OPS.