The San Diego Padres have several roster holes that need to be addressed before the trade deadline on July 31.
San Diego is in a good spot right now, holding the third National League Wild Card spot and just five-and-a-half games back from the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West.
The Padres will need to make a splash at the trade deadline if they want to sustain success and secure a playoff spot.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter named every seller’s best trade chips and their best potential landing spots, with the Padres being named as the best fit for a three-time All-Star slugger.
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna is having a solid season and is rumored to be on the move, as the Braves fall further from playoff contention.
Ozuna, 34, has 13 home runs and 42 RBI while slashing .239/.366/.396 in 90 games this season.
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“The Braves might not opt to sell aggressively, but moving Ozuna makes perfect sense in the final season of his five-year, $80 million deal,” wrote Reuter. “His lack of defensive value limits his list of potential landing spots, but in a thin market for bats, he is one of the few capable of making an impact with a 115 OPS+ and 13 home runs in 389 plate appearances.
“The Padres have been using Trenton Brooks as their primary designated hitter for the past month, and he is hitting .167/.189/.306 for a 35 OPS+ with 13 strikeouts in 37 plate appearances.”
The Braves have been reluctant to have a full fire sale at the trade deadline, but even Ozuna might not be safe.
The Padres would instantly become serious contenders if they added Ozuna, and considering the NL West is one of if not the toughest division in baseball, a blockbuster move may be necessary to make it to October.
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