Padres' Farm System Ranked Worst in MLB After Trade Deadline

After multiple trades at the deadline this season, the San Diego Padres have put themselves back into the playoff conversation in the National League.

San Diego has been one of the better teams in baseball since the trade deadline, with the team landing multiple starting pitchers. But the moves to keep them alive this season have caused a domino effect within the Padres' farm system.

Following the trades this year, the farm system is now viewed as the worst in all of baseball. The Padres have just one prospect in the Top 100, which is catcher Ethan Salas.

San Diego came into the 2026 season ranked dead last in terms of farm systems, and by losing multiple assets, they have stayed in the same spot, per MLB.com insiders Sam Dykstra, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo.

"it’s a cycle with the Padres. Have enough Major League success to be buyers at the Trade Deadline and push the first-round pick lower for the next year’s Draft. Develop just enough prospect talent to get trades over the line but leave a thin group remaining. Repeat," they wrote. "After buying once again at this year’s Deadline and sending top prospects Kash Mayfield, Miguel Mendez and Joniel Hernandez elsewhere, the Padres will next face the development part of that process."

Who are the Padres' Top Prospects?

After trading away multiple players, the Padres' top prospects list has dwindled. But the team does have some talent at the top of the list.

Leading everyone is Salas, who could soon be making the jump to the big leagues. Salas has dominated at Triple-A this season, with him hitting .351 with three home runs and 20 RBIs, while posting an OPS of 1.075 over 15 games.

Coming in at No. 2 for San Diego is left-hander Kruz Schoolcraft, the first-round pick of the Padres in 2025. This season at Single-A, Schoolcraft has recorded a 5.32 ERA over 19 starts.

Right-hander Coleman Borthwick is ranked No. 3 for the Padres after the team selected him in the first round this season. Borthwick has the skill set to be a workhorse starter down the line, with his fastball reaching up to 97-98 mph right now.

Ranking as the Padres' No. 4 prospect is catcher Ty Harvey. He's played 34 games at Single-A this year, hitting .236 with two home runs, 22 RBIs and an OPS of .681.

Rounding out the top five is shortstop Elliot Lascelles, whom the Padres selected in the second round of the 2026 MLB Draft. Lascelles has only played in two games at Rookie Ball, but he has hit .571 with four hits.

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