Padres Shopping For Bullpen Help; 2 Big Names Linked

May 22, 2026 , ,
Houston Astros pitcher Josh Hader reacts during 2025 game.

The San Diego Padres have one of the best bullpens in baseball and AJ Preller is already making calls to make it better.

Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported that Preller is poking around for bullpen help, hoping to strike an early deal with a team open to parting with relief pitching before the trade market heats up later in the summer.

San Diego's relief corps ranks seventh in team ERA at 3.32, second in strikeout rate at 25.5 percent, first in ground-ball rate at 50.8 percent, third in FIP at 3.23, and third in SIERA at 3.27.

By virtually any measure, the Padres bullpen is already elite.

So why is Preller calling around?

The answer starts and ends with Mason Miller.

Manager Craig Stammen, himself a former reliever, has been leaning heavily on Miller during stretches created by rotation injuries to Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove, forcing relievers Kyle Hart and Bryan Hoeing to eat significant bulk innings to cover the gaps.

"That's the conundrum right there," Stammen said of Miller's workload. "We've got the ace in the hole waiting down there, and we know that a lot of times when he's able to pitch, the game is in good hands. But we also know he can't pitch in 162 games, so we've got to manage both those things."

The goal is to add enough depth that Miller can be protected for October rather than gassed by August.

The Names Being Discussed

Josh Hader has surfaced in Padres conversations, with the Astros reliever representing a reunion option given his previous San Diego tenure.

Hader was one of the best closers in baseball during his time with San Diego before leaving in free agency, and familiarity cuts both ways in trade negotiations.

The Astros at 15-23 are rapidly approaching sellers' territory, which could make Hader's contract and pending free agency a natural fit for a package discussion before July.

Aroldis Chapman of the Red Sox has also been mentioned.

The 38-year-old is making $16 million this season and still capable of generating swing-and-miss results when healthy, though Boston's own bullpen situation makes a Chapman move dependent on how their season develops over the next six weeks.

Preller is also reportedly in advanced discussions with veteran reliever Jose Leclerc on a minor league deal, a buy-low swing on a pitcher who required shoulder surgery last summer and is targeting a return around July.

The Padres sit 29-20 in the NL West and are in real contention.

Preller does not wait until the July deadline to improve a roster that is already positioned to contend.

Photo Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

Go To: NFL Rumors | NBA Rumors | NHL Rumors