Padres add RHP Jason Adam, trade 3 prospects to Rays (2024)

BALTIMORE -- The Padres joined the Trade Deadline party by addressing their biggest need with their first move.

San Diego landed righty reliever Jason Adam from Tampa Bay, in exchange for a package of three prospects headlined by right-hander Dylan Lesko. The deal became official on Sunday morning, with right-hander Glenn Otto designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

The Padres will remain active in the coming days ahead of Tuesday's 3 p.m. PT Deadline. But the one thing they had to have -- the one thing they couldn't live without -- was a high-leverage reliever capable of pitching big innings at the back end of games. They didn’t waste any time.

What the Padres are getting
Adam, 32, is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility this offseason and is under team control through 2026. He owns a 2.49 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP in 47 innings this season, pitching mostly in a setup role. In parts of three seasons with the Rays, Adam posted a 2.30 ERA with 194 strikeouts in 164 2/3 innings.

"I love the Rays; everyone here has changed the trajectory of my career," Adam said before leaving on Sunday. "I'm incredibly thankful. Really excited to see what's in store in San Diego and try to help them win a World Series."

With a three-pitch mix, Adam has a knack for missing bats. His whiff rate ranks in the top five percent of the league. It starts with his high-velo, high-spin fastball -- which averages 95.4 mph with an outstanding 2,654 rpm. Adam pairs that fastball with a slider and a changeup that he can use to put hitters away.

What they gave up
"You're not going to get performers like Jason Adam without giving up good prospects," said Padres general manager A.J. Preller.

Indeed, the price was steep. Lesko is a highly regarded prospect, selected by the Padres in the first round of the 2022 Draft. He’s struggled this season, mostly with his command and his ability to harness a third pitch beyond his fastball and changeup. But Lesko’s upside remains high, despite his 6.46 ERA at High-A Fort Wayne this season.

Bush and Gonzalez are also well-regarded in the Padres organization, with each taken in the middle rounds of the 2023 Draft. Like Lesko, both are unpolished and some distance away from making a big league impact. Bush is hitting .272 with a .709 OPS -- and 43 steals -- at Fort Wayne. Gonzalez, a defense-first backstop, was hitting .205 at Single-A Lake Elsinore.

How it fits
With Robert Suarez at the back end, Adam instantly slots in alongside Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon as the team's primary setup men.

It seems likeliest that Adam would slot into the main setup role, given his experience. But his arrival gives manager Mike Shildt a wealth of options to cover innings 6-8 and potentially play matchups.

"It gives Mike a chance to have another guy who can pitch in that spot late in the game against the best parts of the lineup," Preller said. "He gets out righty and lefty hitters, so he gives us that versatility there as well. Another winning piece."

What's next?
Adam might end up being the most impactful of the Padres' Deadline additions. Or he might not. Preller is expected to remain active in his pursuit of pitching.

"We'll keep talking," Preller said. "You want to round your team out. We're still in conversation."

San Diego could still use a starter to fill out what's become a dominant but too-thin-for-their-liking starting rotation. Entering play Sunday, Padres starters have combined to post a 1.44 ERA since the All-Star break. But they've done so using mostly a four-man rotation for the past several weeks, as off-days have afforded them that luxury.

Even with Joe Musgrove on his way back from elbow inflammation, one more starter would help, particularly with the status of Yu Darvish (restricted list) uncertain.

Meanwhile, the bullpen could probably use another lefty, and an outfield/bench bat wouldn't hurt, though the Padres view their offense as mostly complete.