SerpApi.Org
Major League Baseball's trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and the rumors are starting to heat up. To the surprise of nobody, the San Diego Padres are right in the middle of them.
The Padres once again enter the deadline as one of the most fascinating teams to watch. They're consistently one of the most aggressive organizations in baseball, but this year nobody knows whether they'll buy, sell or do both. Entering the day, the Friars sit at 50-51, just two games out of a National League Wild Card spot.
If they decide to sell, the Padres boast one of the deepest bullpens in the majors. Mason Miller is, of course, the headline name and would be the most impactful reliever available. However, another Padres reliever has started generating significant trade interest.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on X Wednesday morning that left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta is actively being discussed in trade talks.
Peralta, 34, is putting together a stellar season. He owns a 2.32 ERA across 50.1 innings with 32 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP. The veteran left-hander has also done an excellent job keeping the ball in the park, posting a 0.72 HR/9 while generating a 48.3% ground-ball rate.
Relief pitching is always one of the hottest markets at the trade deadline. Every out carries more weight in the postseason, and with starters pitching fewer innings than ever, dominant relievers have become even more valuable.
Peralta has been especially dominant recently. Across 18 innings in June, he didn't allow a single earned run while holding opponents to a .422 OPS. He has also shown an ability to escape trouble, limiting hitters to a .220 batting average with runners in scoring position.
While Peralta is a left-hander, he has actually posted reverse splits this season. Right-handed hitters are batting .223 with a .649 OPS against him, while lefties are hitting .256 with a .699 OPS.
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Peralta also has a player option for next season worth $4.45 million. Whether he chooses to exercise it remains to be seen, but with his 35th birthday coming this weekend, it's certainly a realistic possibility.
The trade deadline is Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 PM ET.
