MLB Rumors: Josh Hader, Blake Snell Not Expected to Be Traded by Padres at Deadline

Despite a disappointing 48-52 record so far this season, the San Diego Padres don't appear inclined to sell at the trade deadline.

Per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, the expectation at this point is All-Star closer Josh Hader and left-handed starting pitcher Blake Snell will remain with the team after the Aug. 1 deadline.

There has been a lot of speculation about several players on the Padres' roster recently. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Sunday there "has been no hint" Juan Soto is available.

Hader and Snell would be more obvious trade candidates because they are both set to become free agents after this season. Soto has one more year of team control before hitting free agency after the 2024 campaign.

After an offseason spending spree that saw the Padres add Xander Bogaerts and extend Manny Machado and Yu Darvish, expectations were as high as they have ever been for the franchise.

Things haven't gone as planned to this point in the season. The Padres are currently six games out of a wild card spot and 10 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

Hader and Snell have been two bright spots for the team. Snell leads MLB with a 2.67 ERA and has 143 strikeouts in 108 innings, though he has been threading a tight needle by also leading the league with 59 walks.

Hader was named to his third straight All-Star Game earlier this month. The left-hander is having one of the best seasons of his career with a 0.97 ERA, 24 saves, 55 strikeouts and 16 hits allowed in 37 innings.

The Padres have been playing better lately with an 11-7 record in July. Their schedule does set them up to make a move up the NL West standings if they can put it all together.

Six of their next nine games are against sub-.500 teams in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies. They also have a combined 14 games remaining against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, starting with a four-game set vs. Los Angeles at Petco Park on Aug. 4.