The San Diego Padres still have relevant trade pieces
Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Taking a look at some potential trade victims as the San Diego Padres continue to restructure their roster.
With approximately three months until the start of the 2020 season, the San Diego Padres are still poised to make a few trades.
A.J. Preller and his staff already added Tommy Pham, Trent Grisham, Drew Pomeranz, Jurickson Profar, and Zach Davies to the roster as they attempt to find more balance with the 2020 team. There are whispers of moves on the way as the Padres have a few holes. The team also has an excess in value at certain positions, and that needs to be addressed.
The players listed below are only in this piece, as the team has so much depth.
The Padres have done well to stock their system with relevant prospects. The team is at a point where decisions need to be made, though. The organization succeeded in getting these men to this point in their careers. Now is an opportunity to hand-pick cultivated prospects you deem worthy of a long term investment in playing time. Not that the rest do not have value. More often than not, for various reasons, their potential is not unlocked by the team that drafted them, and it takes a change of scenery to uncork their abilities.
Here is a look at some players who are coveted by other franchises and might be attainable.
The athletic (yes, I wrote athletic) first baseman is turning out to be serviceable in the outfield. He has the foot speed and arm strength for the position but lacks the experience in tracking fly balls. That is understandable as he never really played the position regularly until the last two seasons. His bat is exceptional, as he barrels up baseballs to all fields. If he can be more patient at the plate and continue to develop, he could be an All-Star. Unfortunately for him, Eric Hosmer is entrenched at first base for San Diego. Naylor can play left field, but the reality is that his future lies in the infield or as a DH.
The Padres have taken offers on Hedges, as opposing teams value what he brings with the glove. He is arguably the best receiver in the game and has tremendous value in that regard. The problem is that his bat is a significant issue. He has put up a .201/.257/.360 batting line in 1,163 at-bats in the Major Leagues. That is not acceptable. Not in a Padres’ lineup that is struggling for any semblance of offense. Francisco Mejia has issues in his own right, but there seems to be a preference for the Padres to go in his direction when it comes to playing time. Thus, making Hedges expendable for the right price.
This left-handed pitcher is still considered a prospect though he earned some major league service time last year for the Padres at the age of 20. He has a power arm with excellent secondary stuff, but struggles in his health have limited Morejon so far. There is plenty of upside with this pitcher, and he likely will be shopped by the Padres this winter as the team simply has no room for his services. MacKenzie Gore is only days younger, and the left-handed pitcher is very close to reaching the majors. Morejon is arguably the best prospect that the Padres are actively shopping. He has value and would be a great pickup for a team looking at his lofty ceiling.
The Padres like what they have gotten from this tall right-handed pitcher from Cuba. He traditionally pitched at the beginning of games but had no problem transitioning to the bullpen in 2019. He made it to the Major Leagues this past season, showing a plus arm with decent secondary pitches. A potential trading team might want to utilize Baez in the rotation. The Padres have no opportunities for him at the moment in that regard as the rotation is full. There is a lot to like about the right arm of this pitcher who could have a long Major League career when it is all said and done.
At times last year, this Canadian pitcher looked flat-out dominant for the Padres. There is still a lot of potential in the right-hander, but he needs to be more consistent with his stuff. He may have unlocked something last season, but only time will tell. The Padres have a lot of faith in Quantrill, who could very well open the 2020 season in the rotation for the club if all breaks well for him. A few teams have shown interest in the pitcher. However, the Padres will likely hold on to the former first-round pick for now. He has outstanding value as he is ready, willing, and able to eat up Major League innings. He just needs a shot.
Injuries are a significant issue for this talented outfielder. He played in the D.R. this winter and looked well contributing to the Leones de Escogido. The left-handed hitter is a Statcast darling as he punishes the baseball when he makes contact. The fleet-footed outfield has a strong arm and can play center, but is not a natural at the position. Cordero was drafted as a shortstop and showed his inexperience in the outfield from time to time. The Padres currently have him penciled in as a platoon partner for Manuel Margot in centerfield. He could be dealt if the Padres upgrade in centerfield or another team becomes enamored with his potential.
There is no rush to deal this pitcher, but he could be moved if the team upgrades significantly in the rotation this winter. Lucchesi is presently pitching very well with a two-pitch mix, but some worry that the league will catch up with him eventually. The Padres are pleased with what he provides as he is a nice counter to the hard throwers on the staff like Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet. There is a low likelihood of a trade, but if the Padres are swept off their feet, a deal of Luchessi could happen.
The SDSU product has accomplished all he can at the Triple-A level, hitting almost .400 last year for El Paso. The infielder has shown great hand-eye coordination and an excellent eye at the plate. The problem is that he is a corner infielder, and the team has Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer at those positions. France learned to play second base last year and played some games for the Padres at the position. He has a great right-handed bat and deserves a chance at an everyday job. The Padres cannot provide that for him, so he could be a very attractive player for a team. France will not overwhelm you with his tools, but he does everything well, and that has good value.
This soon-to-be 28-year-old is not a young prospect. He played in Mexico for many years before being signed by the Red Sox a few years ago. The small in stature left-handed hitter has shown a tremendous bat everywhere he goes. Currently playing in Mexico, Quiroz is batting in the cleanup position for the Caneros do los Mochis. He is arguably ready to make his Major League debut, but the team has Jurickson Profar and Greg Garcia at the second base position. Ivan Castillo and Owen Miller are younger prospects who are playing well directly behind Quiroz in the system. He may be dealt as there is simply no room for the Mexican infielder
The Padres already traded Austin Allen to the Oakland A’s for Profar in an attempt to clear things up with the crowded catching situation in the system. Mejia and Hedges are currently at the Major League level, and that leaves Torrens set for the everyday job in El Paso to begin the 2020 season. It is hard to imagine that the well-rounded catcher will suffer in the PCL, so his value should continue to rise. If a team is looking for a catcher with one year of Major League service time and a decent upside- Torrens is the man.
In the past, fans of the Padres would be excited for the arrival of this Cuban pitcher. He has a 99 mph fastball and also spins up a slow curve in the low 70s in terms of velocity. Sadly, for Bolanos, this Padres’ system is stacked with arms, and he flies under the radar. The 23-year-old could be very enticing for a team looking for an undervalued arm. There is a lot to like about his potential, but there is some risk too, as the right-handed pitcher can struggle to throw strikes.
James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.
Happy New Years James. I appreciate the work you put in. A lot of what you wrote seems fairly accurate based on what we’ve seen and heard, but one thing you said on multiple occasions that is just flat wrong is, “there’s simply no room” for players such as Morejon and Quiroz, and that “the rotation is full” for Baez. That’s simply wrong. They are still shopping for players at both of those positions, so unless they bring in an obvious starter in each of those areas, there are opportunities for these guys and others to take the next step and win a job. Luchessi and Quantrill haven’t staked a claim to anything long term either, as the back of that rotation is WIDE open for the taking. 2nd base looks to have the same gap in that proverbial door, so game on come Spring Training!
Look jake peavy can eat up innings ,he is still working
Out .get him at a low cost.adrain gonzslez still playing in mex .get both cheap fill two spots.backup at first and a stud to teach the kids on the mound.cheap real chesp.then move hosmer to seattle and bring in the young first basemen from baltamore or use myers.
Good stuff. Keep up the good work, James
Thank you
Got to call BS on your assessment. If this list was so highly regarded than every rumor associated with the Padres wouldnt be asking for Gore, Patino, Urias or Edwards. Just based on baseballs talking heads and comments from other fan bases they arent.
Josh Naylor has never been thought of as a 1B only, DH bat. His ML time in 19 has scrubbed some of that but he still isnt considered a top prospect in a stacked system. Now that he has graduated from prospect status hes an after thought.
Same could be said for Ty France. He had a breakout season in El Paso and decorated with all kind of awards but he never could garner much attention outside the Padres system. Where was he gona play when Machado, Urias, Kinsler, and Garcia was taking the reps. When he got his shot, he didnt exactly force their hand.
Adrian Morejon like Franchy Cordero are sunk by neither can stay healthy. Sure the tools are there but put the shoe on the other foot. Would you want either coming back in a trade knowing what is in the public record ? Morejon has even more damage by sinking on the top 100 from as high as top 40 to barely hanging onto the bottom 20.
Michel Baez isnt young (23 vs 20 for Morejon) and though he has shown better than Morejon in Elsinore and Amarillo Baez has mostly been viewed as a bullpen arm at the highest level. Michel’s fall from the top 100 was more abrupt due to injury and his inability to get back and show what he was before that. Baez isnt considered a top 100 any longer. Both were rushed and could benefit from starting 2020 in Amarillo or El Paso.
Cal Quantrill has been low on most Padres fans radar. He was seen as nothing more than a back of rotation starter and that’s from our own fanbase. What Cal did show unlike Adrain Morejon or Ronald Bolanos was the ability to get ML hitters out when he didnt have his best. Getting rocked his last handful of starts is what most people outside this market remember, not the well pitched 6 to 8 starts where he gave his team a chance to win.
Bottom line people are down on all the Padres prospects cause they are viewed through the lens of 5 yrs of AJ with little to show at the ML level. For the last three yrs it’s been hot lava talent, a whole lot of hype, and minimal success from prospects not names Tatis, Munoz or Paddack.
The final peg is an anti Preller bias that is anything Padres. Look no further than how the Reds have been covered vs. the Padres. Over the last three yrs the Reds have won 3 more games with names like Castillo, Suarez, Votto, Garrett, Lorenzen, Iglesias, Barnhart. And recent additions of Sonny Gray, Trevor Bauer, Yasil Puig, Moustakas, Aquino.
Usually when the entire coaching staff gets overturned the team is acknowledging something needs to change. AJ has been told the next year or two is dependent on wins or hes gone too. Sounds like accountability to me.
Every prospect and player is not valued the same. Of course, every team demands the Padres’ best players in trade talks. That is how negotiations work. You are naive if you think the Padres listed on this post do not have value to some extent. I never wrote they were in demand by every team like the four prospects you listed, but to say they aren’t regarded is wrong.
I would trade Hosmer. He has value, and see what you can get for him. I think many possibilities open up for a player to help the team. Put Naylor on 1st, an with the teams surrounding pieces, you’ll be surprised. With the freed up salary from Hosmer’s departure, youll have more flexibility. The next move was one I suggested before, but it still goes, and it is the Myers issue. I would still make him this offer, and it could be the best thing yet. Get Myers to “retire”. You offer him 1% interest in the team, and get him off the books. This opens up the possibilities for you to pick up whatever you need to build your lineup. This, along with some prospect trading, opens up even more. I’d trade Hedges,along with a PTBNL for a leadoff hitter, and CF. With some freed up salary, get rid of Richards, and make Felix Hernandez an offer. Try 2 years, 26MM, and add some incentives. This will help the team improve quickly and effectively.
David, he has a no trade in place at this point
He’ll approve a trade if one is made. The real issue is his trade value, or lack thereof.
Hosmer has negative WAR over the last 2 years. This is the definition of NO trade value. He might be bad contract swapped out, but otherwise we’re stuck with him.
And your “idea” for Myers shows you have no clue what an idea really is.
Uhhh David you are way off here. You usually make some really good points but this whole rant is waaaayyy off. Hosmer has negative trade value. Richards is much more valuable than King Felix. And give Myers an ownership stake if he retires????? Step back from the weed my man.
Wow.. King Felix wasn’t even offered a contract by his own team. His stats won’t even get him a minor league offer. Why would you give him $13 mil per year for two years? Part ownership for Myers to retire? Dude.. Wow.. I thought I was feeling the booze…
No one is taking Hosmer
Great observations by Tommy T. I’m still hanging on – by a thread, to remain a Padres fan but Preller is making it hard. What can be said about the guy that we haven’t heard yet? He’s terrible and in spite of all the talk and rumors of moves or acquisitions, unlike a super and astute GM like Mike Rizzo of the Nationals, Preller can’t come close. Now he has lost the Japanese CF he coveted to the Reds. But wait, he can re-acquire Travis Jankowski and solve the problem of having a bona fide CF! Ha Ha But Travis can’t play for Preller. Sad. However Margot can? That’s even sadder. So what’s it going to take for our owners to fire the guy and send him back to Jon Daniels in Texas?
I hear you Gary. After 50+ years of rooting-for-the-home-team I have seriously questioned my Padres-fan-status a lot the past couple of years.
For what it’s worth, and in potential irony, the Reds new CF may displace your boy Jankowski on their roster, and he could, in theory, end up back with the Pads! Ha! [They have way too many OF’s]
All of these players are valuable, but the Padres have a way of diminishing their worth. If traded, all of these players (with a possible exception) would be sold low when compared to their actual value.
Naylor, as an example, has great potential as a first baseman, but he is displaced by Preller’s Folly. Others have also been misused (e.g. Morejon and Baez out of the bullpen?) or not used enough (Ty France), or degraded in open discussions in the media, and in trade talk (Hedges; Myers).
This is no way to run a successful business, or cultivate a good atmosphere and healthy workplace environment. The leadership of the Padres is horrible at putting a good product on the field.