MLB Trade Deadline: 5 trades Padres should make

2. Shop multiple members of the rotation

With few options available both at the 2016 trade deadline and subsequent offseason, starting pitchers will come at a premium cost on Aug. 1. San Diego should take advantage of the situation by shopping multiple members of its starting rotation, even with Ross unavailable due to a shoulder problem.

The easiest starter for the Padres to part with will be Andrew Cashner, who is a free agent this offseason and probably won’t be re-singed by the club. While Cashner’s value is low after a tough first half that included a 5.40 ERA (5.58 FIP) per FanGraphs, somebody may be desperate enough to part with a lottery ticket type prospect to add the depth given the horrible market.

Cashner has been one of the most frustrating pitchers in recent memory, as he has the raw stuff to succeed and turned in strong campaigns in 2013 and 2014. Since then, the 29-year-old has really struggled, but there is still a small amount of upside there to gamble on.

A tougher decision will be what to do with All-Star Drew Pomeranz, who could fetch a much more significant return. Pomeranz has broken out in a major way in 2016, posting a 2.47 ERA (3.18 FIP) with a strikeout rate of 28 percent per FanGraphs behind his terrific curveball.

As Pomeranz will just be entering arbitration this offseason, he could be a top-line pitcher in San Diego for the next couple of years. Still, it’s fair to wonder if this is the best we’ll see from Pomeranz, and he is one of the few Padres who could return the package of prospects San Diego desperately needs.

The Baltimore Orioles could be the team to take a flyer on Cashner, while the Rangers are one good fit for Pomeranz.

Next: 1. Trade Melvin Upton Jr.