Padres explore adding Kodai Senga as MLB trade deadline nears

The San Diego Padres have reportedly checked in on right-handed pitcher Kodai Senga as the MLB trade deadline approaches, according to a report by Joel Sherman. The inquiry indicates that the Padres are looking for another starting pitching option as they weigh how to strengthen their rotation for the stretch of the season.

Senga’s 2023 performance is the baseline that makes this kind of trade conversation plausible. But this season, the scouting story has shifted sharply. As described in the Yahoo Sports report, the 33-year-old has struggled to command and prevent damage, posting an 8.66 ERA and a 6.50 FIP across 44.2 innings. Those run-prevention indicators do not match what teams typically seek from an impact starter they plan to rely on deep into the summer.

The report also frames Senga’s workload and availability as part of the challenge. It notes that he has had trouble staying healthy, making his near-term value as more complicated than a straight talent evaluation. For a contender, that uncertainty usually matters as much as the raw numbers, because rotations often tighten quickly once the schedule becomes less forgiving.

From the Padres’ perspective, the appeal is clear but the risk profile is just as clear. Checking in on a pitcher with a recent track record of high-end outcomes suggests San Diego is willing to test the market for upside, even if the current season has looked like a regression year. At the same time, the line between “bounce-back” and “breakdown” is determined by details that a deadline request can help clarify, such as pitch usage, recovery timelines, and whether problems appear mechanical, physical, or both.

In trade-deadline conversations, teams rarely announce a single preferred target. Instead, front offices often run a parallel set of talks, gauging both cost and willingness to move a player. A check-in does not confirm a trade is imminent, and it does not specify any agreed-upon compensation. It does, however, establish that Senga has entered at least one serious discussion channel as teams look for rotational depth and durability.

What to watch next is whether the market expands or narrows around Senga. If multiple teams are exploring similar questions, the price could rise. If teams conclude the health concerns outweigh the ceiling suggested by his earlier success, the options for San Diego could shrink quickly. Either way, the next development will likely be the level of interest that shows up in more concrete reporting from inside the league, not just initial contact.

For the Padres, the larger implication is that late-season pitching needs can drive specific roster decisions. A starter with Senga’s upside profile is the type of acquisition that could change how a club constructs its late-inning and postseason plans, but only if the current-season issues prove to be correctable rather than persistent. The coming days should clarify whether San Diego is pursuing a true solution or simply continuing deadline scouting around a complicated package of performance and health.