The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers are engaged in one of the best rivalries in baseball. This rivalry often has the Dodgers a step ahead of San Diego, though, including in the division again this year.

But the Padres are only a few key trades away from closing the gap on Los Angeles.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel recently suggested the Padres could be one of the top landing spots for Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara in a trade that could change the outlook of the National League.

“Alcantara was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2022, winning the NL Cy Young unanimously. He was more solid than spectacular in 2023 and missed 2024 with Tommy John surgery,” They wrote. “He has been tinkering this season to try to get his pitch mix and locations right in hopes of regaining his former glory.

“It is starting to look as though he is turning the corner to become a midrotation starter (or better?) once again as he has posted a 2.74 ERA in four June outings. The Marlins could hold on to him until the winter, when teams like Baltimore would be more inclined to acquire him and the final two years of his contract.”

The Padres are one of the more aggressive teams in the league. With them looking to close the gap on Los Angeles, this is the exact kind of trade that would boost the Padres to the top of the division.

The only issue is that San Diego might not have the prospect capital to pull off such a blockbuster deal. Alcántara will likely cost a team a few of their top prospects, and the Padres have traded their top talent in recent years to acquire Tanner Scott and Juan Soto.

If the Padres can find a way to pull this off, it would change the outlook in the NL.

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