Padres Explore Catcher Trades Amid Pitching Exodus
General manager A.J. Preller confirmed interest in trading Freddy Fermin or Luis Campusano as San Diego faces major free-agent losses.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Baseball
Padres general manager A.J. Preller confirmed trade interest in catchers Freddy Fermin and Luis Campusano on Tuesday at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas. The club is simultaneously losing multiple starting pitchers to free agency, including Michael King and Nick Pivetta.
Why it matters
The Padres face significant pitching needs after free agency removed much of their rotation depth, making catcher trades a potential avenue for roster reshaping. Fermin and Campusano are both due raises in arbitration, adding a financial dimension to any decision.
Campusano batted .265 with a .795 OPS last season, outpacing Fermin, whose OPS finished at .589 despite his Gold Glove finalist recognition. Salas batted .256 with a .737 OPS after his September callup, and it remains unclear which of the three will be retained.
The players
A.J. Preller
Preller is the Padres general manager responsible for the club's roster construction and trade decisions.
San Diego Padres
The Padres are a Major League Baseball franchise based in San Diego that competes in the National League West.
The details
Preller confirmed the trade interest during a press availability at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas. Manager Mike Stammen has used Campusano and Salas as pinch-hitters or DH options, and Salas is not guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Timeline
Tuesday: Preller confirmed catcher trade interest at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas.
September: Ethan Salas earned his callup when rosters expanded.
Last season: Campusano and Fermin posted the statistics cited in the report.
Season Trajectory
The Padres are losing a substantial share of their starting rotation to free agency, including Michael King and Nick Pivetta, and the club remains interested in bringing King and Pivetta back. Walker Buehler, Robbie Ray, Casey Mize, Lucas Giolito and Griffin Canning are also free agents, so the catcher discussions are part of a broader offseason effort to rebuild the pitching staff.
Fantasy managers tracking Padres catchers should note that Campusano's .795 OPS last season makes him the more productive bat, while any trade of Fermin or Campusano would change the Padres' catching depth chart. Salas's playing time at Opening Day remains uncertain, affecting how often he appears in lineups.
The takeaway
The Padres' catcher discussions show how a club losing multiple starters can look to its depth players for trade value, so watch for roster moves as the offseason develops. Fans tracking the team should follow how the rotation is rebuilt, since pitching decisions will shape the lineup.
Further reading
For more on the club's offseason moves, see the latest Baseball coverage for San Diego.
