Our team-by-team Trade Deadline Outlook series continues with the Padres. San Diego's top-heavy roster makes it easy to identify the priorities. If they remain resistant to trading either of their top prospects, they could pivot to under-the-radar or rental trade targets.
Record: 52-44 (48.3% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)
Other series entries: Rockies, Giants, Phillies, Pirates, Astros, Marlins, Athletics, Orioles, White Sox, Nationals, Cubs, Rays, Dodgers, Braves, Yankees, Angels, Mets, Blue Jays, Mariners
Buy Mode
Potential needs: Catcher, left field, starting pitcher, utility infielder
San Diego has had the same top few needs going back to the offseason. Free agent departures of Kyle Higashioka and Jurickson Profar left them without answers at catcher and in left field, respectively. The rotation depth has been a question since Joe Musgrove underwent Tommy John surgery. The late-offseason Nick Pivetta signing has been massive, but the back of the rotation still feels tenuous. Low-cost pickups in catcher and left field have not panned out, leaving the Padres to address both positions over the next two and a half weeks.
The Padres have had arguably the worst catching tandem in MLB. Elias Díaz and Martín Maldonado have combined to hit .195/.255/.306 over 327 plate appearances. Neither player rates highly as a pitch framer. While both players, especially Maldonado, have a strong reputation for the unquantifiable aspects of catcher defense (e.g. game-calling, managing a pitching staff), the production has not been there. It speaks to how far former top prospect Luis Campusano has fallen in the organization's eyes that he hasn't gotten an opportunity this year.
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Joey Bart or Henry Davis of the Pirates seem like potential targets / trade chips.
Padres just drafted two catchers… trust me, we’re good on catching depth
As you said, they JUST drafted two catchers. As in, they won’t reach the majors this season. The article is talking about solutions at catcher for them THIS season, not two or three years from now.
It’s an unfortunate reflection of the Padres catching situation that as rough a season as Bart and Davis have had, either would immediately become the primary catcher for SD.
Bart, in particular, might be interesting if another change of scenery can kick start him again.
Bart is pretty good offensively he just gets hurt a lot and his power disappeared. Last year he was a revelation.
JJ Bleday had 20 homers and 40 doubles last year.
He’s having a down year this but could be worth taking a flier on.
Maybe the Padres won’t manage to downgrade this time…
*prayer hands emoji*
Trust in AJ.
LFGSD!
Preller has not gotten an extension to his contract that is up after next season. He needs to deliver this year. He will strip the farm team (again) if he needs to get to deep in the postseason as his job may be riding on it. It doesn’t help that he just had probably the ugliest draft in his time with the club. But that is a problem maybe for the next guy. But trust me, no one is untouchable this season.
Impossible to know the success of the draft the day after the draft.
He will not trade DeVries. The padres don’t need to acquire a star to upgrade their two biggest needs. Zero signs preller’s job is on the line.
Man, I love getting the upside of Kruz Schoolcraft with the 25th pick. Much more so than taking Ryan Weathers with the 7th overall pick in 2018.
Weathers has actually been excellent with the Marlins though, at least when he’s been healthy.
Two options I see. That doesn’t mean they are possible.
Trade for Ward of the Angels and Lee from the White Sox.
Use a 3-man platoon of Sheets, Campusano, and Ward at DH and LF.
DFA Maldonado and Brooks.
A longer-term fix is to trade for Westburg from the Orioles and Lee from the White Sox.
DFA Maldonado and Iglesias.
Campusano needs to play consistently either at backup catcher or DH. 18 AB in 6 weeks like the last time he was called up won’t help him or the team. Play him daily or trade him. He has nothing to prove in AAA.
I don’t see the Orioles trading Westburg for anything the Padres would be willing to offer.