Padres recall JP Sears to bolster rotation amid Mason Miller trade blockbuster
Summary: San Diego added depth to its pitching staff by recalling JP Sears for a start against the San Francisco Giants, part of a rotation shuffle following the blockbuster trade that brought Mason Miller to San Diego.
The San Diego Padres announced that right-hander JP Sears is being recalled from the minors and will start in the series finale versus the Giants, marking his second outing in a Padres uniform. To make room, the club optioned right-hander Ron Marinaccio to Triple-A El Paso after Marinaccio’s brief appearance.
Sears’ return gives the Padres another trusted arm as they contend with injuries and uncertainty in the rotation. His first Padres appearance wasn’t flawless, as he allowed five earned runs on 10 hits over five innings with four strikeouts against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Looking back, Sears pitched last season with the Athletics, posting a 4.95 ERA across 22 starts and 111 innings, with 97 strikeouts and 29 walks. He carried an 85 ERA+ with Oakland, meaning his performance was about 15 percent below league average by that metric.
Before being recalled, Sears had one minor-league outing for San Diego, tossing five innings while yielding two earned runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Placing Sears in the rotation comes as the Padres navigate a stretch run with Michael King sidelined by injury and uncertain starts from Nestor Cortes and Dylan Cease. The move also reflects the broader impact of the midseason roster shakeups surrounding the Mason Miller blockbuster, which brought Miller and Leo De Vries to San Diego.
Why this matters: Sears provides depth and a chance to stabilize a rotation that has faced health and consistency challenges. If he can rebound after a rocky first Padres appearance, he could help the Padres keep pace with the Dodgers as they approach a pivotal weekend series in San Diego.
Additional notes for readers: The Padres’ deadline moves signal a willingness to lean on pitching depth as they pursue a playoff push, with Sears’ performance likely to influence how the rotation is managed in the coming weeks. Positive momentum from this start could set the tone for a competitive stretch run.