Sitting 1.5 games back from a Wild Card spot, A.J. Preller must target rotation depth, outfield power, and second-base stability to transform San Diego into a postseason threat.
We are less than one week out from this season’s trade deadline, and it’s shaping up to be a dramatic one. There could be multiple high-profile names on the move before the August 3rd deadline, with San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller being right up there at the top of the list.
There are tons of rumors and interest surrounding the All-Star who boasts an 0.82 ERA, but it remains unclear just how willing the Padres are when it comes to trading away their closer just one year after acquiring him.
Sitting at a 53-53 record as of Tuesday morning, the Padres sit just 1.5 games back of a Wild Card spot in a highly contested National League race. With their recent sweep of the Miami Marlins, the Padres are in a much better position to become buyers at the deadline instead of selling.
If that is the case, which areas of its roster would San Diego need to address most to have the best chance at a postseason spot?
The biggest need is obvious – starting pitching. Starters Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta remain out, and in the midst of a tight Wild Card race, the Padres need some reliable starters to help along the way.
General manager A.J. Preller has a decision to make with this route, however. He has proven to hit big and land big names, but would San Diego be better off trading for a couple of starters to help at the end of the rotation instead? Pivetta and Musgrove should be back in August, and Michael King and Randy Vasquez are good enough to be the top guys for now, meaning a couple of back-end starters could be the smartest move for Preller to make.
Besides the starting pitching, the Padres could also use some help in their lineup. They remain near the bottom of baseball in the key offensive statistics, and though they’ve been better as of late, it’s certainly an area that needs addressing.
Adding another corner outfielder would be a smart move for the Padres, as they’re currently relying on a platoon of players just to stay afloat. Fernando Tatis Jr. obviously has his spot in right field down, but adding another piece who can play in left or simply add depth is necessary.
Ramon Laureano hasn't been great this season, and Samad Taylor and Luis Rengifo have played well in their short sample sizes, but can they be trusted when it comes down to the wire? I wouldn't be comfortable relying on them with the season on the line, meaning a move for a proven left fielder is a must at the deadline.
Lastly, second base has been an issue all year long for San Diego. Jake Cronenworth has been disappointing, and offseason signee Sung-Mun Song hasn’t quite adjusted to the MLB just yet. Posting .615 and .593 OPS, respectively, second base has been one of the weakest positions for the Padres when it comes to offense.
That being said, Cronenworth has found a groove as of late, but it's certainly still a position to take note of for the Padres before the deadline.
Perhaps a reunion with Luis Arraez could be an option, as he is likely to be dealt by the San Francisco Giants before the deadline. His .326 average and return to All-Star status could do wonders for the Padres’ lineup.
Again, this all depends on which direction the Padres’ higher-ups decide to go in the next week. They could be sellers, buyers, or something in between. Matching up against the Colorado Rockies and Giants in the next week, the Padres need to take advantage as they play some of the bottom teams in the NL. From there, they’ll be in a much better postseason position – and a much better position to be aggressive at the deadline.
