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In an offseason that has seen them commerce outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Yankees, the San Diego Padres are on the lookout for methods to improve their membership that completed with a disappointing 82-80 file in 2023. After agreeing to a take care of aid pitcher Yuki Matsui, there are nonetheless a couple of holes within the roster that may have to be crammed.
Here is one commerce and one signing the Padres ought to make this offseason.
Commerce: Deal Jake Cronenworth to the Angels
Whereas there have been rumors that the Padres is not going to be buying and selling utilityman Jake Cronenworth due to his contract and down season, it could make sense to try to discover a suitor for him earlier than the beginning of the 2024 season after already unloading outfielders Trent Grisham and Soto.
Signed to a seven-year, $80M contract extension with the Padres in April, Cronenworth did not reside as much as expectations in 2023, posting a .229/.312/.378 slash line with 41 extra-base hits and 48 RBI in 127 video games performed.
Buying and selling him might be exhausting with out consuming a big chunk of his new contract, however one suitor that stands out is the Los Angeles Angels.
The deal would see Cronenworth traded to the Angels in trade for beginning pitcher Tyler Anderson and outfielder Jo Adell. Whereas the return is not main, each gamers provide issues that the Padres want.
Anderson is coming off a disappointing 2023 season (6-6, 5.43 ERA) with the Angels after inking a three-year, $39M take care of them final offseason, however he’s a veteran left-hander who has loads of Nationwide League West expertise after his time with each the Colorado Rockies and Los Angels Dodgers.
With solely two outfielders on the present 40-man roster, Adell provides the Padres an intriguing possibility within the outfield. The 24-year-old completed 2023 with 24 dwelling runs in solely 74 video games in Triple-A and is only a few seasons faraway from being one of many high prospects in baseball.
Signing: Signal RHP Frankie Montas
After making just one look in 2023, Montas might be a giant bounce-back candidate in 2024.
Though his time with the Yankees was a catastrophe, Montas nonetheless needs to be on each staff’s radar that wants pitching.
With a profession file of 37-35 with a 3.90 ERA, 1.294 WHIP and 612 strikeouts in 593.2 innings pitched, the 30-year-old is just two-seasons faraway from a sixth-place end within the American League Cy Younger Award race.
Whereas Montas will possible be pitching on a one-year deal to show that he’s the identical pitcher he as soon as was, the Padres can afford to take that threat.
With pitchers Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and newly-acquired Michael King all etched into the highest of the rotation, Montas could be given a spot within the rotation the place he would not have as a lot stress to supply immediately and may proceed working his means again from damage.
Montas might additionally make an attractive commerce piece if he performs nicely for the Padres, giving them an opportunity to recoup some prospects in return in the event that they felt like they are going to lose him subsequent offseason.
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