Collectively, there was a sigh of relief among the Friar Faithful after the San Diego Padres swept a four-game weekend series over the Cincinnati Reds. But a sense of urgency is not far behind on their emotional meter as the fan base has been frustrated with the team’s inconsistent play in June. Currently, the Padres are 8-11 as the fans expect some tweaks to the roster before the Major League Baseball trade deadline on July 30.
We are a little over five weeks from that date, but it will be here before we know it. And no Padres fan is bashful to play GM and suggest a few players to acquire before the deadline. Each candidate could put the Friars over the top in the race to the National League West Division crown.
San Diego Padres trade targets
The San Diego Padres have a front office that is willing to make a move or two as they revamped their entire roster at last August’s trade deadline. Padres general manager AJ Preller has gone away from the trend of refusing to trade away prospects for proven talent. Adding key additions to the mix will show a commitment to winning and leave fewer questions in the air heading into the dog days of the 2021 season.
Here are a few suggestions that should get the Friar Faithful excited and the team back on course for their season goal of playing postseason baseball:
Adam Frazier, Pittsburgh Pirates
The San Diego Padres need another dependable bat in the lineup as their offense has been middle-of-the-pack all season long. Tommy Pham’s struggles at the plate have put more pressure on Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. to supply more right-handed hitting power to the attack.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in a midst of a rebuild and they’re looking to move some veterans off the roster. Just imagine if the Friars could pry Adam Frazier away from the Pirates and place him in between Trent Grisham and Tatis Jr, in the batting order. His ability at the plate will give the Padres a more effective lineup.
Here is a potential lineup:
1. Trent Grisham CF
2. Adam Frazier LF
3. Fernando Tatis Jr. SS
4. Manny Machado 3B
5. Eric Hosmer 1B
6. Wil Myers RF
7. Jake Cronenworth 2B
8. Austin Nola C
Acquiring Frazier makes sense from a baseball perspective as he gives the Padres an ideal No 2 hitter who can hit to all fields. The Friars need another dependable bat as the biggest problem with the offense is the inability to plate runners in scoring position. Frazier is perfect at putting the ball into play as he is batting .327 with 23 doubles and an .848 OPS.
Plus, Frazier is versatile enough to play anywhere on the diamond. By trade, he is a second baseman, but Frazier is a solid defensive outfielder who can play either corner position. His salary ($4.2 million for 2021) is an easy fit, so acquiring him should be a no-brainer for the Padres.