Trade Deadline Preview: San Diego Padres
By Sean Davis
Jun 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres 3rd baseman Chase Headley (7) during the Padres 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports
The Padres are said to be “open for business” with anyone on the roster potentially available, aside from ace Andrew Cashner. There are players who may be more likely to be moved than others, however.
Headley’s days in San Diego have appeared numbered for some time now and his name has been mentioned frequently in trade rumors for the past year and a half. With free agency looming after the season, it seems evident that time has come for the Padres to move him. Injury concerns and poor performance have limited his once promising trade value, at best the team is likely to receive some mid-level prospects in return. Headley will walk for nothing at season’s end, so any return is better than nothing.
Street figures to bring in a stronger package than Headley would, he’s having a spectacular season thus far. Of the 34 games the Padres have won as of June 29th, Street has saved 20 of them, posting a minuscule 0.96 ERA in the process. It would make sense for the Angels above any other team to make a push for Street. They’ve attempted to try the change of scenery method, acquiring Jason Grilli from the Pirates for Ernesto Frieri, but a proven closer like Street could really improve their bullpen as a whole.
3. Ian Kennedy
The Padres made a shrewd move in acquiring Kennedy last year for lefty reliever Joe Thatcher, getting an established starter under control through 2014. The time is now though, to cash in the Kennedy chip. A team like the New York Yankees could seek a reunion with the righty, and many others like the Giants, Athletics, Cardinals, Braves, and Blue Jays could pursue Kennedy in lieu of the higher priced starters like David Price and Jeff Samardzija. A Headley/Kennedy package to the Yankees could be a distinct possibility.