Just before the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, the Padres further bolstered their rotation. Casey Mize, a former AL All-Star with the Detroit Tigers, was traded for two players on August 3 to the Padres. One of whom was former first-rounder Kash Mayfield.
The Padres’ Return
- SP Casey Mize (2.70 ERA, 85 K over 86.2 IP)
Casey Mize has spent time on the IL this season, limiting him to 86.2 IP. However, it’s been a mostly good season for Mize, taken first overall by the Tigers way back in 2018.
Mize doesn’t have that plus strikeout stuff but has been incredibly adept at keeping hitters off balance. Among starting pitchers with 85+ IP this season, Mize has the third-lowest HR/9 (.52) in the Majors, behind only Ranger Suarez and Shohei Ohtani. Fastball that’ll sit in the low-to-mid-90s and top out at 97 MPH. Lots of secondary stuff to work, including the splitter & slider.
He will be a free agent at the end of the season.
The Tigers’ Return
- SP Kash Mayfield
- SP/RP Jackson Wolf
Jackson Wolf has limited MLB experience. Kash Mayfield is the big draw here, as he was a first-round pick by the Padres two years ago.
The 21-year-old Mayfield doesn’t throw hard but is a safe, polished starter. Low-90s fastball, really good changeup, and a good amount of swing-and-miss in the Midwest League this season.
He struck out 62 over 53 innings this season with High-A Fort Wayne, where he posted a sub-4.00 ERA.
Analysis
The Tigers traded Tarik Skubal out west a few days earlier, and now Mize goes to San Diego. Mayfield is a good building block, filling out a farm system that was somewhat lacking in high-end pitching prospects. Before the trade, the two standouts among pitchers were Ben Jacobs and 2026 first-rounder Cameron Flukey (not counting B. Smith or R. Ryan from the Skubal trade).
San Diego makes another big trade, hours after getting Robbie Ray from San Francisco. To get past the Dodgers & compete in the arms race, you need arms — literally.
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