Sitting 6.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Diego Padres may not currently lead the NL West, but they remain one of the strongest teams in the National League. However, with a record of 37-35, Mike Shildt’s squad has ample room for improvement.
At nearly the halfway mark of the season, the Padres have plenty of time to solidify their playoff contender status after missing the postseason last year. This could involve making significant moves before MLB’s July 30 trade deadline.
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden recently outlined three key positional trade targets he expects the Padres to pursue this summer, naming specific players for each role. Here’s a breakdown:
Bowden suggests the Padres will be looking for an “impact” starting pitcher, a right-handed relief pitcher, and improvements to their bench depth.
For the starting pitcher, Bowden lists potential targets such as Jesus Luzardo, Garrett Crochet, Erick Fedde, and Jack Flaherty. He notes that San Diego has already had discussions regarding each of these starters but has yet to finalize any deals.
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In terms of relievers, Bowden identifies a long list of potential acquisitions for the Padres to consider, including Lucas Erceg, Adam Ottavino, Hunter Strickland, Carlos Estévez, Kyle Finnegan, Michael Kopech, and Steven Wilson.
For added bench depth, Bowden suggests the Padres could target Brendan Donovan, Tommy Edman, or Abraham Toro.
Bowden also highlights the Padres’ reputation for making bold moves at the trade deadline, suggesting this year will be no different. The main question is which player San Diego will prioritize after having already added Luis Arraez earlier in the season.
