Trade Deadline Preview: San Diego Padres

Jun 18, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; A detailed view of the patch worn by the San Diego Padres before a game against the Seattle Mariners in honor of former player

(19) at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Needless to say it has been a tough year for the San Diego Padres.  First, long-time Hall of Fame announcer Jerry Coleman passed away during the offseason and then the pride of the Padres, “Mr. Padre” himself, Tony Gwynn died far too young just a couple weeks ago.  As if that wasn’t enough, the team is struggling mightily on the field, scoring the fewest runs in all of baseball, and have slipped behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the cellar of the NL West.  Oh, and they just got no-hit by Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum, for the second time, this past week.

The rough season is leading to wholesale changes, as GM Josh Byrnes was relieved of his duties recently, and the team has been left without a clear game plan.  It’s clear a major rebuilding effort needs to be undertaken, and there’s no better time than now to get that started.

Despite the struggles as a whole, the Padres assuredly have some individual pieces that could provide significant boosts to contending teams all over baseball.  There are few, but the San Diego Padres are a true, bonafide seller in this trade market.