Report: Padres get Royals C Freddy Fermin for two pitchers

The San Diego Padres landed catcher Freddy Fermin from the Kansas City Royals on Thursday in exchange for right-handed pitchers Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert, ESPN reported.
Fermin, 30, has spent his entire major league career with the Royals and broke into the major leagues in 2022. In 67 games this season, he has batted .255 with three home runs, 12 RBIs and 17 runs.
Across 251 career games, Fermin is a .268 hitter who has recorded 18 homers, 31 doubles, 80 RBIs and 84 runs.
Kolek, 28, is in his second season in the majors and moved from the bullpen to the Padres’ rotation this year. In 14 starts in 2025, he is 4-5 with a 4.18 ERA and tossed a five-hit shutout against the Colorado Rockies on May 10.
In 56 career games (14 starts), Kolek has amassed a 7-5 record and a 4.56 ERA with 95 strikeouts in 126 1/3 innings.
Bergert, 25, is a rookie who made his debut for the Padres in April and has had a mix of starting and relief assignments. Bergert is 1-0 with a 2.78 ERA through 11 appearances (seven starts), with 34 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings.