Two-Time All-Star Pitcher Available After Padres Dealt Season-Ending News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Josh Valdez | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 12:42 AM ET

The San Diego Padres are only 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West, but it'll take a miracle to win the division crown. Their key players are getting injured at the wrong time, while the Dodgers are healing up.

Relief pitcher Jason Adam (8-4, 1.93 ERA) was carted off the field during Monday's 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles and was diagnosed with a ruptured quad tendon, via USA Today's Bob Nightengale. The 34-year-old won't return this season.

That's in addition to ace hurler Michael King (4-2, 2.81 ERA), who has been out since August 14 with knee inflammation. The former New York Yankee is slated to return in early September, via MLB.com.

On the offensive side, star right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (back) is day-to-day, while shortstop Xander Bogaerts (foot) is out for the regular season. Tatis leads San Diego with 93 runs, 81 walks, 27 stolen bases, and a 5.4 WAR, while Bogaerts is second with 20 stolen bases and fourth with 124 hits.

Conversely, Los Angeles is scheduled to get several players back in September, via MLB.com. Infielder/outfielder Kiké Hernandez, starting pitcher Blake Snell (paternity list), relief pitcher Michael Kopech, and infielder/outfielder Hyeseong Kim already returned over the past week, while third baseman Max Muncy (oblique), relief pitcher Alex Vesia (oblique), relief pitcher Brock Stewart (shoulder), infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman (ankle), and starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (shoulder) are all expected to be back this month.

This puts the Padres in an even weaker position with four weeks left in the regular season, but there's still time to catch up. It could help to sign a free-agent reliever to replace Adam, and there's a two-time All-Star on the open market.

Veteran right-hander Ryan Pressly (2-3, 4.35 ERA) was cut by the Chicago Cubs on July 31, but he has the skills and experience that San Diego needs right now. The 36-year-old didn't allow an earned run across nine appearances in April and had a 1.50 ERA over 12 outings in June.

Pressly is also a seasoned playoff pitcher, boasting a 2.78 ERA in 47 career postseason games. The native Texan made all of his playoff appearances for the Houston Astros from 2018 to 2024, including 16 across the last three years.

Ryan pressly last 30 games

28.1 IP
2.86 era

He’d be better than Neris right ? pic.twitter.com/WLaXDkBfmW
— Yordaddy (@Yordaddy2025mvp) August 6, 2025

Ryan Pressly Could Boost Padres

Chicago cut Pressly after he recorded a 6.75 ERA in July, but he still notched six scoreless outings that month. The former World Series champion allowed all seven of his earned runs over the other four games, and three in one.

While Pressly's inconsistency this season must be considered, it would be prudent to acquire an extra bullpen arm to support Mason Miller (1-2, 3.28 ERA, 21 saves), Jeremiah Estrada (4-5, 3.05 ERA), Adrian Morejon (11-4, 1.85 ERA), and Wandy Peralta (5-1, 3.45 ERA). Nobody on the free-agent market at this point is elite, and calling up an inexperienced minor-leaguer is risky for high-leverage situations during a tight divisional race.

Next up for the Padres is a rematch with the Orioles on Tuesday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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