The San Diego Padres have plenty of work to do this winter. Team president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller will need to revamp the team’s roster. His main concern is upgrading the starting rotation. Depending on the outcome of club/player options, Preller may need to fill all five starting rotation spots.
Luis Gil’s time in New York may be ending
One potential trade candidate is New York Yankees starter Luis Gil. He appears to be the odd man out in their starting pitching depth. At best in 2027, Gil ranks eighth on their depth chart.
The right-hander is not that far removed from winning the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year Award. Gil won 15 games in 29 starts; he struck out 177 batters in 151.2 innings pitched.
At the time, the Yankees thought Gil would become a mainstay in the rotation. Instead, his career has gone downhill after suffering several severe arm injuries that limited his availability. Since 2024, he has made 20 major league appearances.
Gil’s injury timeline includes Tommy John surgery in May 2022 that sidelined him for the entire following season. This spring, he suffered a right lat strain that sidelined him for the majority of the first half. His time in the majors was limited; Gil was placed on the injured list later in the season with a right shoulder strain.
Niebla could revive Gil’s career
The Padres are one of several teams linked to the starter. Preller has a track record of acquiring struggling starting pitchers and letting the Friars’ pitching coach, Ruben Niebla, work his magic.
He creates an environment that allows them to reach their true potential. Niebla might recommend tweaking their delivery mechanics, altering their grip, or adjusting their pitch usage during a start. San Diego has become a destination for starters looking to revive their floundering career.
Typically, Gil throws four pitches: four-seam fastball, slider, changeup, and sinker. The lat strain injury might have caused a mechanical flaw in his delivery that has sapped his velocity and pitch location.
Gil’s four-seamer velocity dipped from 97 mph to 94 mph. Compounding his troubles, subpar command drove his walk rate up to 5.9% from 4.5% while lowering his strikeout rate from 10.1% to a dismal 5.6%. This lack of execution forced Gil to leave pitches high and hittable in the strike zone.
Niebla can solve his pitching issues. Who knows, maybe Gil recaptures his rookie-of-the-year form and becomes a top-of-the-rotation pitcher again.
Nothing is a guarantee, but the Padres and Yankees are ideal trade partners.
For San Diego, Gil represents a low-risk, high-reward trade option. He is the perfect fit for the Friars
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