A.J. Ellis has quietly produced a solid season with the San Diego Padres. Now, he is one of the most underrated trade chips on the market.
Despite sitting 24 games below .500, the San Diego Padres have been linked to Rays’ starter Chris Archer. However, even if they do acquire Archer, they figure to be sellers at the trade deadline. They have already dealt away Brad Hand and Adam Cimber, and have several other valuable trade chips.
Among the Padres’ most valuable trade chips is A.J. Ellis. The 37-year-old backstop has been a pleasant surprise for the Friars, slashing .296/.401/.374 across 43 games.
As a career .240 hitter, his newfound offensive prowess is a bit suspicious. He has an above average BABIP, at .367, which could signal that he has been the beneficiary of some good luck. Even if his bat does regress, he would still be a worthwhile addition for a contender.
Ellis is one of the most well-respected catchers in the game. He spent years as Clayton Kershaw‘s personal catcher, and is viewed as an outstanding defender. For a team with an underperforming pitching staff and a hole behind the plate, Ellis could be the perfect acquisition.
In addition to his on-field performance, Ellis is a tremendous asset to have in the clubhouse. At 37, he is a seasoned vet and has seen it all. He has been a part of postseason runs with the Dodgers, as well as rebuilding seasons with the Padres and Marlins. Regardless of his situation, he has always found a way to make the most of his abilities and contribute in any way possible.
Finally, Ellis is signed to an extremely affordable contract. He is only owed about $600,000 for the rest of the season, making him a bargain in today’s game. For a team close to exceeding the luxury tax threshold, he would be a welcome addition.
The scarcity of catchers on the market does not hurt Ellis’ value either. The asking price on J.T. Realmuto is inordinate, and Wilson Ramos is currently on the disabled list. Besides those two, Ellis may be the best catcher available.
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Fortunately for the Padres, a few teams are reportedly in the market for a catcher. The Nationals are among the most notable, and Ellis could be a perfect fit.
The Nats have been the most underwhelming team in the league this year and have a black hole behind the dish. On top of all of their other issues, they have a rookie manager at the helm and the clubhouse could grow uneasy at any moment. Ellis would be an improvement at catcher and would be an enormous asset in the clubhouse down the stretch.
It likely would not take too much to acquire Ellis, which would fit into the Nats’ plans if they do not want to go all-in this year.
Ellis has also excelled in the postseason, which could help any contender who acquires him. The Nats, in particular, should find this attractive, considering their horrific postseason track record.
Although A.J. Ellis is not a flashy trade candidate, he is a valuable one. With Francisco Mejia currently blocked in Triple-A and Ellis set to become a free agent at the season’s end, this could be the perfect opportunity for the San Diego Padres to deal their veteran backstop.