Padres Trade Deadline Deal With Pirates Turned Into Absolute Disaster

Sometimes buying has dire consequences.

Controversially going for a playoff push despite a losing record at the trade deadline, the results of such a move haven't changed San Diego's place in the standings. 

Trading for a flurry of veterans, including the most prominent one involving Pittsburgh, the moves haven't moved the needle for the Padres and the team is staring at another missed postseason this year. 

That #Pirates trade is all but in the books:

Ji-Man Choi has a right foot Lisfranc injury after fouling a ball off himself last night with @epchihuahuas

Rich Hill's spot in the rotation is again a TBA, with Waldron and Martinez mentioned as possibilities for Sunday.

— Jeff Sanders (@sdutSanders) September 7, 2023

Both Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi have struggled in their time with the club since coming over from the NL Central, even as the Friars thought that new expectations could help turn around their lackluster production up to that point in the year. 

In the month since they've been in Southern California, Hill hasn't had the best return back to the NL West after having a successful run with the Dodgers in previous seasons. 

Coming back to the division, Hill's ERA has risen by nearly one run since his time in San Diego started and he's had just one quality start while in Bob Melvin's rotation. 

For Choi it's been a similar story in both production, but with the added caveat of an unfortunate injury on top of his poor play since coming over from the Pirates. 

The Korean international's time in San Diego at first base was hoped to be split with Garrett Cooper who also came over at the deadline from Miami. 

Unfortunately, a foot injury has meant that the best of Choi's production has been absent from the Padres lineup in a move they hoped would lead them to contention. 

With their additions simply not panning out, the Padres are hoping for a miracle to save their season and bring postseason baseball back to Petco. 

GM A.J. Preller's aggressive moves continue to be present in the organization, but for his 2023 roster, his deadline dealing didn't produce the results he's wanted thus far.