Adrian Morejon has appeared in 48 games for the San Diego Padres this season, worked more than 55 innings, and is posting the best strikeout numbers of his career. With free agency arriving after 2026, the 27-year-old left-hander could be available before the trade deadline, and the New York Yankees are among the teams that could pursue him, according to Yahoo Sports.
Morejon was once a highly regarded prospect out of Cuba, but his early years in the majors were difficult. He threw just 75 innings across his first five seasons, with an ERA above five and three separate seasons where he logged fewer than 10 innings. That changed in 2023, when he shifted to a full-time relief role and found consistency he had not previously shown at the major league level.
Since then, he has not slowed down. Between 2024 and 2025, Morejon pitched in 135 games and posted a 2.42 ERA with a 2.52 FIP. Both numbers point to a reliever who is not just getting results but earning them through quality contact management and strikeout ability.
In 2026, the numbers have stayed on that level. His 3.25 ERA comes with a 2.40 FIP and a 2.47 xFIP, meaning the underlying metrics support the surface results. His strikeout rate of 27.9 percent is the highest of his career. His walk rate of 6.2 percent has remained steady. He also carries a 1.8 fWAR in relief, which is a significant total for a pitcher in that role through late July.
ZiPS projections for the remainder of the season have him pitching in 24 more games, covering 24 innings, with a 3.21 ERA and a 2.84 FIP. Those numbers suggest continued value through October for any team that acquires him.
San Diego sits below .500 with five teams ahead of them for the final National League Wild Card spot. While the Padres have not committed to selling, a rental piece like Morejon, who will hit free agency in the winter regardless, makes practical sense to move if the right offer comes in. The team would be unlikely to move closer Mason Miller without a significant return, given that he carries three additional years of team control beyond this season, but Morejon is a different calculation.
For the Yankees, the fit is straightforward. Tim Hill has been largely disappointing in 2026, and left-handed bullpen depth is a need. Morejon would add a durable, high-strikeout option who has handled a heavy workload without showing signs of wear. He throws hard, posts strong peripherals, and has sustained his performance across three seasons now. Because he is a rental, the asking price from San Diego may be moderate compared to other deadline targets.
The trade deadline is approaching, and the Yankees' interest in Morejon, if it develops into a formal offer, would give the Padres a decision to make about a reliever who has been one of the more reliable arms in their bullpen all season.
