The San Diego Padres made a significant move at the MLB Trade Deadline by acquiring right-handed reliever Jason Adam from the Tampa Bay Rays. The deal came at a high cost, as the Padres gave up three prospects: Dylan Lesko, Homer Bush Jr., and J.D. Gonzalez.
Adam has been an effective reliever for several teams throughout his career, including the Padres earlier in his tenure. Since joining the Rays in 2022, he has a 2.30 ERA and a 30.4% strikeout rate with an impressive pitch mix consisting of a high-velo fastball averaging 95.4 mph and an outstanding changeup.
The Padres are getting Adam under team control through the end of the 2026 season as he enters his second year of arbitration eligibility. He has a knack for missing bats with a whiff rate in the top five percent of the league, making him an excellent addition to their bullpen.
The Padres have had success this season with their current relievers, including closer Robert Suarez and setup men Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada. However, they recognized the need for another high-leverage arm to help secure wins in close games.
Lesko was the 15th overall pick by the Padres in 2022 and is considered one of the better prospects in baseball despite control issues. Bush Jr., a speed-and-defense specialist, has 65 steals in 76 tries at High-A level, while Gonzalez, a third-round pick last year, is projected to potentially be a two-way player from behind the plate someday.
The Padres are currently in possession of a National League Wild Card spot with a record of 57-50 and will remain active in the coming days ahead of Tuesday's deadline. They are expected to make at least one more move, most likely for a starting pitcher.