The July 31, 2025 deal was a clean needs-for-needs exchange. The Kansas City Royals, thinned out by injuries, targeted immediate rotation stability and got it by acquiring right-handers Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert. The San Diego Padres addressed a different roster hole, landing a reliable, controllable starting catcher in Freddy Fermin — a strong defender, a Salvador Pérez mentee, and a clubhouse favorite who fit the Padres’ plan behind the plate. This wasn’t about winners and losers; it was both clubs solving urgent problems with pieces that made sense for their timelines.
Kolek’s résumé at the time of the trade looked like sturdy back-end rotation material: a 4.