San Diego Padres: Could they be a trade match with the Atlanta Braves?

Could the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves come together on a trade from their positions of strength?

The San Diego Padres unofficial official signing of Eric Hosmer, creates some possibilities for them. It moves Wil Myers back into a corner outfield spot. Along with Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe, it creates an interesting outfield. They also have Jose Pirela, Alex Dickerson, Franchy Cordero, Cory Spangenberg and Travis Jankowski who could play out there as well.

One thing they don’t have a ton of right now is starting pitching. They brought back familiar faces Tyson Ross and Chris Young on minor league deals. They have about eight other starters competing for roles in the rotation like Clayton Richard, Luis Perdomo, Bryan Mitchell, Robbie Erlin and Colin Rea to name a few.

Not exactly the 1971 Baltimore Orioles rotation.

Well, what if they could flip an outfielder to add an arm?

The Braves top prospects read like a who’s who of the top pitching prospects in the game. They can’t keep them all; there just aren’t enough spots.

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If the Padres are serious in moving Renfroe and the Braves are serious about adding an outfielder, even with top prospect Ronald Acuna banging on the door like the neighbor who just wants some peace and quiet, but you’re blasting music way too loudly.

Here’s the idea:

Braves acquire Renfroe

Padres acquire Touki Toussaint and Aaron Blair

The Braves don’t have a ton of 40 man roster outfield depth. They only have four to speak of. In this deal, they get Renfroe who can start in left field for them and gives them a right-handed power bat. If he struggles and Acuna tears up AAA, come mid-April they can swap them out and still have Renfroe for 2019 as a right field option when Nick Markakis‘ contract runs out. They could also attach Markakis along with a prospect in a trade for a team looking for an outfielder somewhere down the road.

In Blair, the Padres get another rotation option. He’s 25 and has struggled in big league action, but the Braves have enough rotation depth where the loss of Blair wouldn’t be that big of a deal. Same goes for Toussaint, who was the Braves 13th ranked prospect according to MLBpipeline.com last year, but their ninth overall pitching prospect. Toussaint would join arms in AA like Jacob Nix, Cal Quantrill, and Eric Lauer as the Padres build their stable of young arms.

Next: Will Hosmer contract pay off for Padres?

This kind of deal could work between the two clubs, however, in the end, I can’t see the San Diego Padres giving up on Renfroe’s power quite yet. Would it shock me if they traded someone from their depth for another arm? No. However, I don’t think Renfroe would be the one. If I’m the Braves, there are plenty of free agent outfielders left on the board. Why sacrifice pitching depth for something you can just buy and relatively cheap?

This rumor is fun. However, I can’t see it coming to fruition.