It’s been rumored for months that the Padres would eventually have to make some form of outfield move. The team has more outfield options than playing time available, and that’s only become truer as the season has worn on. Currently, the Padres are “discussing what it would look like” to keep rookie slugger Josh Naylor on the roster even after Franchy Cordero returns from the injured list, per Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune. Doing so could potentially mean optioning the struggling Manuel Margot to Triple-A El Paso, where he could receive everyday at-bats and work on his approach at the plate.
Long considered to be among the game’s top prospects, Margot is hitting just .241/.283/.321 on the season, although Naylor hasn’t demonstrated much in the way of on-base skills in his brief audition so far. The former first-round pick has two homers and two doubles in 37 plate appearances but has yet to draw a walk. He’s also punched out a dozen times (32.4 percent) en route to a .243/.243/.459 overall batting line.
Still, it seems the club is at least pondering whether an alignment consisting of Cordero, Naylor, Wil Myers, Franmil Reyes and Hunter Renfroe is worth trying out. Defensively, there’s no true center field option, but any of the bunch could reasonably be expected to be more productive at the plate than Margot. Selling low on Margot surely isn’t something they’d prefer to do, but if the club is comfortable with Cordero or Myers in center, at least on a short-term basis, perhaps they’d more seriously explore the possibility.
As The Athletic’s Dennis Lin recently suggested (subscription required), San Diego would also be wise to explore the market for Renfroe given that his skill set is somewhat similar to that of Reyes, but he’s four years older. Renfroe was a frequently mentioned trade candidate in the winter and is out to a .250/.304/.619 start with 18 homers in 191 plate appearances. Margot is controlled through 2022 — Renfroe through 2023. Neither seems like a viable centerpiece for a premium trade acquisition, but both would hold some appeal to teams in search of controllable outfield depth.
Lin suggests that the Padres will be active both in looking to add long-term pieces — perhaps by condensing some of that outfield surplus and the team’s considerable prospect capital — while also being open-minded to moving current contributors. General manager A.J. Preller acknowledged that with the draft now in the past, trade talk becomes “a lot of the conversation for us,” which is generally true throughout the league.
Beyond Renfroe and Margot, the Padres would surely be open to shedding some of Wil Myers’ remaining contract, but the enormous financial commitment to him makes any trade difficult to piece together. Myers’ six-year, $83MM contract is extremely backloaded, such that he’ll earn $20MM in each of the 2020-22 seasons (plus a $1MM buyout on a 2023 club option). He’s hitting .232/.330/.442 with 11 homers, seven doubles and seven stolen bases through 218 plate appearances, but he’s also striking out in a career-worst 36.2 percent of his trips to the plate. He’s a capable enough corner outfielder but is overmatched in center, and his strikeout trouble will always hinder his on-base skills. It’s tough to imagine a trade involving Myers without the Padres taking back a similarly onerous contract or eating a substantial portion of salary.
It’s possible, then, that if the Friars do make a move, they’ll be sending away someone with significant team control remaining. Beyond the aforementioned Margot and Renfroe, Cordero is controlled through 2023, Reyes through 2024 and Naylor through 2025. The Padres are known to be on the lookout for starting pitchers they can control beyond the 2019 season, and parting with a pre-arbitration outfielder who has upwards of a half-decade of club control remaining would help them in that regard.
If the Friars are to explore possible trades for names like Marcus Stroman, Trevor Bauer or Matthew Boyd (to name a few), including a controllable outfielder as a piece of the puzzle would allow them to free up immediate playing time while also addressing the pitching staff both now and in the future. It’s worth nothing that each of the Blue Jays, Indians and the Tigers in particular have faced questions about their outfield production this season. Elsewhere in the league, the Phillies lost Andrew McCutchen for the remainder of the season due to an ACL tear just days after Odubel Herrera’s future became cloudy, at best, due to assault allegations. There are ample trade opportunities to explore, and more figure to emerge as the deadline draws nearer, but Naylor’s arrival and Cordero’s looming return make San Diego’s outfield feel more crowded than ever.
jman117
Cleveland makes sense on paper with poor outfield production, but there’s no way with their current rotation injuries. 3/5 of the rotation is out. Despite the Twins lead, a wild card spot is definitely plausible.
lowtalker1
They also have another issue. When jank comes back. Cordero needs some serious work on his outfield skills. Jank on the other hand is almost flawless in all 3 outfield spots… If only he can hit.
lowtalker1
Naylor would be controlled through 2026.
Steve Adams
Post-2019: 0-1 years of MLB service.
Post-2020: 1+ years
Post-2021: 2+ years
Post-2022: 3+ years
Post-2023: 4+ years
Post-2024: 5+ years
Post-2025: 6+ years / free agency
lowtalker1
Will he spend 172 days on the active roster this year? No sir. Even if he finishes off the year on the club he will be short. Unless they fix this in the near future. That’s the 7th year.
indiansfan44
No Steve has it laid out right there. He doesn’t need to get to 172 days this year he needs to do it by the end of 2020 to reach 1 year. At that point he should sticks with the team in 2021 and would reach 6 years sometime in 2025. If he doesn’t have the service time by then 1 of 2 things happened. Either he ends up injured in the minors so it doesn’t count for service time and can’t be called up or he just isn’t good enough to stick with the team as a full time player and ends up DFA at some point in 2022.
Steve Adams
That doesn’t matter. I outlined his service time as clearly as possible in the comment to which you just responded.
He would only be controlled through 2026 if he didn’t accumulate 172 days of service between this season and next year.
It’s not “spend 172 days on the roster in a season, get a year of service.” It carries over. If he accrues 117 days this year, he only needs to be on the roster for 55 days in 2020 to reach 1+ years of service.
Show Me Your Tatis
You reach free agency when you have 6 FULL years of MLB service time. Naylor doesn’t gain a full year of service time this year but assuming he is never sent down again, he will gain full years of service time in 2020-2025 and be a free agent after 2025. Steve got it right.
Show Me Your Tatis
And yes, as Steve said, if you gain 86 days of service time two years in a row or something like that, it counts as one year.
bleacherbum
Stroman makes the most sense to the Padres IMO, personality works perfectly with this current squad, he has recent playoff/big game experience and is young enough to lead this rotation for the next few years until Paddack is locked in and Gore is up contributing.
bluejaymatt 2
And Jays have an incredibly weak outfield and rotation. Makes too much sense to not happen, just need to haggle over the return now.
Strike Four
Oakland makes wayyy more sense for Stroman, king of the grounders.
Stroman with Chapman, Olson and Semien behind him? ERA: 1.00.
mlbfan1978
Yeah because Machado, Tatis, Urias/Kinsler and Hosmer are all terrible defenders? I would argue that they are better defensively at every spot.
mlb1225
Maybe Tatis and Urias, but only since we haven’t gotten a long look at either.
mlbfan1978
I agree to an extent. Urias hasn’t had a chance to show much but Tatis has made several remarkable plays in his short time. He should definitely improve. Not to mention having a Gold Glover at first makes an above average SS look great.
mlb1225
Hosmer at best is average at first base. His highest DRS was last year with 8. But that’s an outlier among all his other seasons. He has also never had a positive dWAR. I wouldn’t say that Tatis is better defensively than Semien either. At best, he could be on par with him, which still is good since Semien has a 1.1 dWAR already this year, and had a 2.0 dWAR last season.
mlbfan1978
Hosmer has three gold gloves. Metrics don’t tell the whole story. Never have.
its_happening
I wouldn’t touch Oakland’s prospects. They either aren’t hitting or are too old for the level they are at. Pay no mind list.
mlb1225
And Gold Gloves do? Raf Palmeiro has the 1999 AL Gold Glove for first base despite only playing 28 games there. Derek Jeter has 5 gold gloves even though he’s considered one of the worst defenders at shortstop. Sorry to burst your bubble, but every stat says Hosmer is below average most of the time.
padreforlife
He’s average 5 errors and can’t hit lefties
getright11
Fielding percentage does?
padreforlife
Hosmer great base runner also not. He’s every opposing players best friend
wattyman69
Let’s also not forget how great stro pitches in SD for the classic.
Show Me Your Tatis
I think that 2021 is the year. The success of the team is largely dependent on how Hosmer and Machado play. Hosmer can only play well in odd-numbered years so 2020 probably won’t happen. Since Stroman is a free agent after 2020, trading for him would have to be a “no” for me.
padreforlife
2031 is year
driftcat28 2
With regular playing time, do you think Naylor will be a good hitter in the majors?
Psychguy
Nice to see coverage about the West Coast. Thank you.
steve92101
Why does Renfroe have to be traded. The guy is a hitter. Not sure why we can’t work towards an outfield of Renfroe left, Cordero Center and Reyes in right? Use Wil Meyers in Center until Cordero shows he can play every day.
Try Margot, and a prospect like Cal Quantril and maybe a lower level prospect for Stroman.
Then trade Mejia (after he starts hitting, Myers (eat half his contract or something) and another prospect like Weathers maybe for either Syndergaard or Bauer.
This will give the padres a lineup that can consistently play with very little outfield rotation unlike what we are seeing (Renfroe, Reyes, Cordero, Naylor, Jankowski), and a starting staff of Stroman, Syndergaard, Paddack, Strahm, Gore.
P.S. I know I misspelled some names
That’s a WS potential starting staff if you ask me.
RootedInOakland
Lol damn u were able to flip 3 former top prospects who are currently struggling and 2 of SD’s 5-10 ranked prospects for Stroman and Noah, best GM ever!
Lol no offense but this reminds me of every trade offer I get in fantasy where people are afraid to trade their good players but want mine so they package guys that used to be worth something thinking I’ll bite. Padres clearly have a glut of corner OF talent and it’s always best to trade from a position of strength, even if that costs u a guy like Renfroe.
P.P.S. Bauer is a free agent after this year, Stroman has one more year of control, and Noah isn’t a free agent til 2022 so their trade packages would all vary, especially Thor’s.
indiansfan44
Bauer has 1 more year of arbitration left too.
hockeyjohn
Steve92101, Why would the Indians want Meija back in trade? Also Myers even with half the contract paid, isn’t worth it for a small market team like Cleveland. That may fit the Padres needs, but not the needs of the Indians.
Show Me Your Tatis
They would want Mejia back because their starting catcher is batting .227
hockeyjohn
Yes, Roberto Perez is batting ..227. He has also hit 10 home runs so far this year. Perez is also an excellent defense catcher that the Indians value. Mejia is not a good defensive catcher who is hitting .167 in mlb action this year. Tell me again, why do the Indians want Mejia back. The answer is they DON”T.
Show Me Your Tatis
Mejia, like all young players, needs regular AB’s. The bat will play in the Majors but the way SD was using him was just awful. I’m not surprised he struggled the way they were using him. For me, the biggest problem with him is that this is his last option year so starting next year they won’t be able to let him get regular AB’s in AAA anymore.
hockeyjohn
The bat may play, but he will never be good defensively which is one reason Cleveland traded him.
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
The Indians sold high. He may be hitting .227, but he’s getting on base around league average clip, shown pop, has been an above league average hitter this season, and defensively is what they value.
The knock on Mejia were always his receiving abilities and his approach. There were going to be issues if he couldn’t consistently get on base, bc he didn’t project for the huge power to cover up for lack obp.
Indians sold high, and also allowed the Padres to save face on the potential upside. I don’t see the Indians wanting Mejia back, much the same as they when they soured on Frazier.
SDHotDawg
We have 2 legitimate 30+ HR guys in Renfroe and Reyes, and people are trying to trade Renfroe? Foolish.
I would try to deal Margot and/or Myers. I think Jankowski brings more to the table on both sides of the ball than Margot, and Myers is a K machine who is below average defensively.
People keep talking about Cordero like’s some kind of Super Star. He’s not. He truly belongs in the AL, because his defense is atrocious. He’s literally a liability in the field, and he has no instincts.
Naylor can be a good one, but let’s give him some time.
hockeyjohn
Who is going to want Will Myers who is, as SDHotDawg puts it, a K machine who is below average defensely that is owed 60 million for the next 3 seasons? Good Luck, Padres. You are stuck with Wil Myers.
SDHotDawg
Preller’s a genius! He can find a way to move Myers.
(sarcasm)
padreforlife
Cordero, Reyes are d liability’s and Janko Cabrera hit.
Show Me Your Tatis
English.
petcopadre
ridiculous. Reyes clearly does not have the speed for the outfield but that’s why he’s in right field. Cordero has speed and will start hitting again. Cabrera? who? Jankowski needs to go somewhere else as a throw in because he won’t be headlining any trade deal..
SDHotDawg
Wrong. Your better corner OF plays in RIGHT FIELD, this isn’t Little League. When you need to “hide” a poor defender, you play him in LF. This is just common sense baseball.
Cordero has proven he’s a liability in the field. Have you actually seen him play?
Jankowski is an elite defender in CF, and he makes things happen on the bases.
padreforlife
Janko can’t hit please stop bringing him up it’s embarrassing
SDHotDawg
“Can’t hit?” What does that mean? Janks hit .259 with .332 OBP last season. As I’ve already said, he’s an elite defender and can steal bases almost at will.
You should be embarrassed.
Show Me Your Tatis
@SDHotDawg why do you bother responding to this idiot?
SDHotDawg
I momentarily forgot who he is.
Maybe just hoping for change?
Show Me Your Tatis
I’m guessing he has some kind of learning disability and just doesn’t know any better. But him not knowing better doesn’t make him less detrimental.
padreforlife
He’s not worthy of MLB roster spot he’s fast that’s about it. .242 average, 847AB’s,
8 homers and 42 RBI’s. .321 Slug %
padreforlife
225 strikeouts that’s over 1/4 of AB’s he can’t even put ball in play yes embarrassment
SDHotDawg
You use Slg % for a contact/speed guy? Do you know anything about baseball? Some of the best leadoff hitters have very low OPS’s. Why? They don’t hit HRs.
Learn something about the game before you embarrass yourself any further.
padreforlife
Yes he’s big time ok another intelligent Padre fan.
Show Me Your Tatis
Lmao and why would the Indians/Mets want Myers in a trade for a frontline starter?
Oh and the outfield you suggested would be atrocious defensively.
SDHotDawg
Maybe Steve doesn’t follow the Padres very closely? Renfroe belongs in RF, and he’s a good defender. Which is why Reyes should be in LF. Cordero is just plain terrible in the field – much worse than Myers. Our only good defensive options in CF right now are Margot and Janks, preferably, Janks.
padreforlife
Margot and Quantrill for typical Padre fan with absurd trade proposal
The Ghost of Bobby Bonilla
I’m starting to think that a lot of these ultra-hyped prospects might be nothing more than AAAA players.
Not that it’s unique to the Padres, as lots of prospects flame out once they make it to the Bigs, but several of these guys look pretty lost trying to hit MLB pitching.
Strike Four
You should maybe start to think that all prospects, regardless of hype, have equal chance of being stars in MLB. Like, literally every team has what you are talking about, its the nature of the game!
Now, this strange “if he doesnt OPS 1.000 right from the get-go as a 21 year old” types are also people who seriously need to take a step back and understand how the game works better. Its seriously pathetic that people were calling VGJ a flop after a week. Like, why on earth would anyone decide that 10 games should define a players entire future and career? Why would anyone do that? People simply don’t get it and “want superstar now” – doesnt work like that. Some guys become superstars in their 30s.
padreforlife
Their 30’s?
padreforlife
Padre fans now understanding that very few prospects make it. This whole volcano of hot lava still coming?
SDHotDawg
I’ve been saying it for years: you can’t pin all your hopes on prospects, because you can not predict what they will be in the big leagues. And that goes double for pitchers.
Some people just don’t get it. Especially my fellow Padres fans.
padreforlife
No they think every prospect and free agent is the ticket to success
kingkooba
Tatis and Paddack seemed to be as advertised. What top prospects are you referring to that might not be more that AAAA players?
SDHotDawg
Paddack is unique – he’s an outlier. We still don’t know how he’s going to react when he hits a prolonged rough spot.
Some are stupidly quitting on Margevicius and Quantriil! Marge never pitched above A-ball, and Quantrill just made his 5th ML start.
padreforlife
Quantrill is getting better each start
kingkooba
Hotdawg, after Paddack a couple of tough starts he still has an era of 2.97.. I would say he’s the real deal. Gore, Weathers, Patino, Morejon and Baez are all still in the minors and they’re are true top prospects. If you are referring to Nick Marge yes he is AAAA player but was never a 10 prospect.
SDHotDawg
Yes, Paddack does look like the real deal. That’s why I called him an “outlier.” It’s EXTREMELY RARE for a rookie pitcher to come up and have immediate success. Especially one with only a couple of games in AA.
“True top prospects” means nothing. Seriously.
padreforlife
The Bailiff has wats to go before he’s anything of course Padre fans had him in HOF after few starts
padreforlife
Paddack got against Dodgers, Phillies, and Yankees he’s far from real think. Tatis different story he’s real thing
getright11
Slow down and proofread your insufferable comments.
Show Me Your Tatis
He can’t.
padreforlife
Ambushed u happy
padreforlife
Yes lots of hype especially for Paddack. Tatis looks good other than him no player has stood out from recent prospects brought up
padreforlife
They don’t seem ready for big stage. Dodgers bring up guys and they seem prepared
nutznboltz
Bingo
Strike Four
Naylor and to the Indians for Bauer makes too much sense for both sides.
Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA
I’m not buying that at all especially considering how the Indians are constructed and what they currently have. Bauer is going to provide a much better starting piece than Naylor. That’s not a knock on Naylor, just a bit of an overvaluing of Naylor.
bradthebluefish
Phillies can help ease the pain and trade for an OF.
sdpadsfan11
This time last year the Padres were looking for a TOR young starter with at least 3 years of control. What has changed?
Show Me Your Tatis
Nothing. Padres could use a starting who they control through at least 2021.
Show Me Your Tatis
could use a starter*
SDHotDawg
Nothing has changed. The next time Preller puts together a decent ML pitching staff will be his first time.
bbatardo
Renfroe and Reyes are almost the same player, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Both have shown they can change the game with 1 swing of the bat. I know ideally the Padres wish they could trade Myers, but no way that is happening unless the Padres eat his salary or add prospects to sweeten a deal.
hoosierhysteria
Myers must go. Dumb player.
its_happening
Myers, Naylor, Quantrill and Weathers for Stroman, Grichuk and Alford
Show Me Your Tatis
No one is taking Myers in a trade for a frontline starter. Nice job trying to sneak it in there tho.
its_happening
That’s what people said about Jose Reyes. So long as someone is willing take on payroll there will always be a chance. Besides, any way to get rid of Grichuk is fine with me.
Toronto would not necessarily be against taking a bad contract like Myers so long as they receive the prospects and offload a contract. They have the flexibility.
padreforlife
Myers has zero baseball intelligence
padreforlife
Renfroe getting better he’s average at best fielder. Reyes can’t field. Margot can’t hit. Myers stinks but his contract can’t be moved.
SDHotDawg
Renfroe is an above average RF.
padreforlife
No he’s not
Padres84
Marcus Stroman
Ken Giles
4
Will Myers’ + 22 mill
Francisco Mejia
Ryan weathers
Logan Allen
Josh Naylor
Show Me Your Tatis
Wil Myers, even with $22m of his contract thrown in, makes that package worse, not better. And the Jays still don’t do the package you suggested even without Myers.
padreforlife
Silly proposal by Padre fan what’s new
sdpadsfan11
Padres get Thor
Mets get Mejia, Logan Allen, Potts, and two throwins
Pads50
You wanna trade some body leave Renfroe and Franmil alone move some combination of naylor ( kid is grossly overweight, doesn’t really have a position) Myers doesn’t really have a position except first and sell the potential of Margot.
Show Me Your Tatis
Padres would have to eat maybe 1/2 of Myers’ contract to trade him for a 30 y/o reliever in A-ball. More so if they are trying to get a frontline starter in the trade.
its_happening
Like I said above, Padres would have to take on some salary to offload Myers.
Show Me Your Tatis
They certainly aren’t getting Stroman back in the trade though. They have to be able to trade Myers without eating money before they can even think about getting back actual value in the trade.
its_happening
It can be done if they are willing to get creative. I’m telling you, as a Jays fan, they’d take Myers’ contract in a Stroman trade. But I doubt SD is prepared to pay the price of prospects.
padreforlife
Why would Blue Jays who are rebuilding go after Myers seriously
padreforlife
1/2 isn’t enough and they aren’t doing that.
padreforlife
Why would team be interested in Myers if you’re a contender he’s useless and if you’re rebuilding maybe as full in at minimum wage.