This trade season, the San Diego Padres are looking for help in several areas.

Pitching is the main target for the San Diego Padres this week, even after the acquisition of Jason Adam on Sunday morning.

However, the team is also looking to upgrade in the outfield.

With Fernando Tatis Jr. still down, the Padres are wise in exploring all available options. Bryce Johnson is currently on the major league roster as the team’s fifth outfielder. In the minors, the Padres have Tirso Ornelas and Eguy Rosario capable of playing. Both are rookies, and Rosario is a career infielder who just made the move to the outfield last month. Jose Azocar is in El Paso as well.

There is no doubt the team can use an upgrade.

The thought process is that the team is looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder who is capable of playing center field. Jose Azocar fits that mold to the tee and has 214 games played with the Padres throughout the last three seasons. Azocar is currently in Triple-A and putting up a .792 OPS in a hitter-friendly league. The Padres expect more from the bat.

When reaching out to the Padres, very little is communicated about who the team is looking at specifically. That is just the way A.J. Preller and his staff operate. The team representative did indicate that the team is exploring all options, including those that do not center around acquiring a pitcher.

“We are exploring several options. A few outfielders are on our radar. We will see where it goes,” a Padres official tells EVT.

Insurance is great for a competitive club with World Series ambitions. Tatis’ future this season is cloudy, and the Padres need to do everything they can to solidify the lineup. Once the trade deadline ends, they are limited in the players they can acquire. The time is now to make a move.

The roster is full of infielders. Manny Machado, Ha-Seong Kim, Luis Arraez, Jake Cronenworth, and Xander Bogaerts will play every game. These five essentially make up the four starting infielders and the DH for the day. Donovan Solano was excellent for the team when Bogaerts was out, but he is now the odd man out. He still brings tremendous value off the bench and as someone who can fill in for the day.

Of that group of players, Cronenworth is likely the only one capable of playing in the outfield. But that scenario is not likely. Not at this point in the season.

So, the Padres will either roll with David Peralta and Bryce Johnson for the near future, or they can make a trade.

You tell me what is the more likely scenario.

The San Diego Padres will make another trade or two this week. You just know they will. The starting staff needs to be reinforced. But do not be surprised if an outfielder is also acquired in a potential deal before 6 pm (EST) on Tuesday. It’s hot stove season, and it’s heating up. The Padres will surely be front and center.

James Clark

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.