3 potential trade targets for the San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are right where they were expected to be at the beginning of the season, battling with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West division crown.

And yet, they have not gotten there in the expected way. Fernando Tatis Jr. has yet to have a plate appearance this year after his wrist injury in the offseason. Manny Machado is putting together an MVP caliber year in his absence, but the fact that Jurickson Profar and Eric Hosmer are the Padres’ second and third best hitters has to be concerning. Their .705 OPS is 11th in the NL, putting that much more pressure on a pitching staff that has been excellent thus far, but is also battling injuries.

Three potential trade targets for San Diego Padres

This also means that there are going to be plenty of holes for the Padres to attempt to fill in the coming weeks. A.J. Preller has proven that he will do everything he can to upgrade the roster and he will have options. It is just a matter of getting those trades to come together.

The San Diego Padres are in a solid spot despite their myriad of issues in the lineup. Let’s take a look at three potential trade targets.

Chad Pinder

The San Diego Padres have been trying to fix their outfield for years. This time, it may be time to bring in someone that has a history with manager Bob Melvin.

Chad Pinder is the type of player that teams covet. His ability to play either corner outfield spot, as well as around the infield, will make him an intriguing player at the deadline. He may even be a relative bargain, as his 87 OPS+ with five homers and nine doubles, along with 61 strikeouts and seven walks, in 185 plate appearances entering Saturday is disappointing.

But there is that level of familiarity. Melvin was Pinder’s manager during his previous six years in Oakland and knows how to get the most out of him. Going to a contending team should also make a difference as Pinder would have a much better lineup around him than he does in Oakland.

It is also possible that such a trade would be a trial run for the two sides. Pinder would also make sense for the Padres during the 2022-23 free agency cycle as another option with defensive versatility. This would allow both sides to see if such a deal would be a good fit.

The San Diego Padres and Chad Pinder just make a great deal of sense. Such a deal could just be the beginning of that relationship.

Ian Happ

Trade rumors have circulated around Ian Happ for years. This might be the time that happens.

As the San Diego Padres have been linked to Chad Pinder recently, it would make sense that they would target similar players if the A’s asking price is beyond what would be considered reasonable. Happ would certainly be that player, given his ability to play all three spots in the outfield as well as second and third base.

He would have advantages over acquiring Pinder as well. Happ is capable of playing in center, something that Pinder has not done since 2019. He is also under team control through 2023, making him more than just a two or three month rental option for the Padres as they move forward.

At the same time, that extra year of team control will increase his price tag in any trade talks. The same can be said for his production this year as Happ is in the midst of a career season. He has posted a 140 OPS+ with eight homers and 16 doubles in his 278 plate appearances entering Saturday, his 2.5 bWAR already surpassing his previous best mark. A case can be made that, if the Cubs get a second All Star, it should be him.

After years of speculation, this may be the year that Ian Happ is traded, The San Diego Padres would be a solid fit.