As the MLB trade deadline gets closer, teams are deciding which young players they’re willing to part with, and which ones are completely off-limits. For the San Diego Padres, that decision has started to take shape.
According to The Athletic’s Dennis Lin, the Padres have made it clear that their No. 1 prospect, Leo De Vries, isn’t going anywhere. He’s ranked the third-best prospect in all of baseball and has become a centerpiece of the team’s future plans. In short: De Vries is off the table.
But when it comes to Ethan Salas, their No. 2 prospect, the door might be open.
Salas, just 19 years old, was once considered the top international prospect in 2023 and signed with the Padres for $5.6 million. He’s still one of baseball’s most talked-about young catchers, but he’s had a rough 2025 season so far. He’s hitting just .188 in the minors and is currently sidelined with a back injury that could keep him out for two months.
Because of that, his trade value has dipped a bit, but teams that need a young catcher might still be interested. The Padres wouldn’t give him up easily. Reports suggest he’d only be moved if the return is a game-changing player who could help the team for years to come, not just a short-term rental.
San Diego is especially looking to improve their left field situation, and they’ve also been linked to potential deals involving a pitcher or even another catcher in creative three-team trades.
With the deadline heating up, it’ll be interesting to see if any team makes the kind of offer that convinces the Padres to part with their young catcher.