The San Diego Padres have made a swift roster move, optioning left-handed pitcher JP Sears to Triple-A El Paso on Tuesday, August 5, just one day after his challenging debut with the team. The decision underscores the high stakes for the club as it navigates a tight National League playoff race.
Sears, 29, was a key piece in a blockbuster trade with the Oakland Athletics at last week’s trade deadline. The Padres acquired Sears and dominant closer Mason Miller in a deal that sent a package of top prospects to Oakland, most notably 18-year-old shortstop Leodalis De Vries, who was ranked as the No. 3 prospect in all of baseball. The trade was a clear signal of the Padres’ “all-in” mentality for the 2025 season.
However, Sears’ first appearance in a Padres uniform did not go as planned. In his start against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, he struggled, surrendering five runs on ten hits over five innings. The Padres ultimately lost the game 6-2, a setback in their pursuit of the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Following the performance, Sears’ season record stands at 7-10 with a 5.12 ERA across 23 starts between his time with the Athletics and Padres.
The demotion came just before the Padres bounced back with a 10-5 victory over the Diamondbacks in 11 innings on Tuesday night, a game sparked by a go-ahead single from Luis Arráez. To fill Sears’ spot on the active roster, the team has recalled right-hander Sean Reynolds from Triple-A El Paso. Furthermore, reports from MLB.com indicate that Nestor Cortes will step into the starting rotation, a move made possible by the team’s sudden surplus of starting pitching options following their deadline acquisitions.
The acquisition of Miller and Sears was designed to fortify a pitching staff for a deep postseason run. Miller, an All-Star in 2024, has been one of the game’s most electric relievers, boasting a fastball that averages over 101 mph. His addition provides the Padres with formidable late-inning depth alongside their All-Star closer Robert Suarez. Sears was intended to provide stability and depth to the back end of the rotation.
While the immediate return on the Sears acquisition has been disappointing, the move to option him allows him to work on his mechanics in a lower-pressure environment at El Paso. For the Padres, the decision reflects an urgency to optimize every roster spot for the final stretch of the season. As of August 5, the Padres hold a 62-51 record, placing them just 3.0 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and in possession of the final NL Wild Card spot. With less than two months remaining in the regular season, every game is crucial, and the front office is demonstrating it will not hesitate to make difficult decisions in its quest for a championship.
