Did the San Diego Padres peak Trevor Bauer’s interest?
The San Diego Padres made some big moves before the new year, and free-agent Trevor Bauer is excited about it. After the Padres traded for Yu Darvish, Bauer tweeted this:
Three words for the @Padres fan base. I see y’all 👀 https://t.co/vZjMAm6n7t
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) December 29, 2020
Bauer also shared a video of his conversation with a Padres fan (Robby) that happened before Christmas. While wearing a Padres hat, Bauer listened to Robby’s sales pitch. Robby also said the Padres should go after a big bat and another starting pitcher (after signing Bauer), and the team nearly did all of that.
The San Diego Padres first signed the highly touted Korean baseball player, Ha-Seong Kim to a four-year deal. Later, the Padres sent some prospects across the country in exchange for former Cy Young winner Blake Snell. And then the cherry on the top, the San Diego Padres traded for Yu Darvish and Victor Caratini all in one day.
With the addition of Darvish and Snell, the Padres now have one of the better starting rotations in the MLB. But, will this entice Trevor Bauer to join San Diego now?
Why Trevor Bauer might choose the San Diego Padres…
Trevor Bauer wants to win a World Series, and the Padres got a whole lot closer after yesterday. We already know about “Slam Diego” and the star-studded infield that already includes Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. The addition of Ha-Seong Kim at the minimum adds depth to the offense, with the potential of being a rookie sensation.
The starting rotation needed work this offseason, so San Diego just went and go two aces. Everyone was wowed by the acquisition of Blake Snell, but adding Yu Darvish blew people’s minds. The San Diego Padres now have a rotation that includes: Blake Snell, Yu Darvish, Dinelson Lamet, and Chris Paddack.
The Padres built a dominant four head monster, but the addition of Trevor Bauer would entertain the possibility of winning the NL West Division over the Dodgers. That being said, if Bauer wanted to join a side with the best chance of competing for a championship in 2021, the San Diego Padres might be that team.
Bauer is also a good friend of Mike Clevinger who joined the Padres in 2020. Clevinger will miss the 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery in November, but I am sure Mike has talked to his friend about San Diego. Clevinger signed a two-year extension so he is under club control through 2022.
Last but not least, Trevor Bauer was born in North Hollywood, and attended UCLA. California is his home. That is why many Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers fans think they have a great shot of landing Trevor Bauer. But San Diego is not too far away from Los Angeles, so the Padres have a “come home” card in their back pocket as well.
It seems like we are seeing more MLB “Superteams” being created, just like the NBA, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Trevor Bauer ends up in a Padres uniform. If the San Diego Padres land Bauer, they are going to be a whole lot to handle.