San Diego Padres: Christmas Wish List Features Big Names

Contributor Michael Black brings back his Christmas wish list for the San Diego Padres.

It’s that time of year again, San Diego Padres fans. Tis the season to dream big. Where you can make franchise-altering trades or sign top free agents to shape your franchise for the coming season and years to come.

What gifts will be waiting under the tree for Friar faithful on Christmas morning? Well, none quite yet (outside of Garrett Richards and Ian Kinsler) with league offices closing for the holiday. However, the holiday season doesn’t end at Christmas and fans have a lot of new toys they wouldn’t mind spending their holiday money on.  Will the San Diego Padres acquire a shiny new third baseman or starting pitcher? Time will only tell, but for now let’s dream of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado dancing in our heads.

Sorry fans, as much as I’d love for our beloved Friars to go out and “be a little stupid” by signing both of them, the realization of signing one, let alone both of them, would be the biggest surprise in not only baseball history but maybe sports history. It’s just not gonna happen.

But this Christmas wish list will have a scenario that, as ludicrous as it might sound, could theoretically work.

The New York Yankees have players on the block that the San Diego Padres need.

Before we discuss this year’s list, let’s first go back and see what last year’s wish list consisted of. Much like this year, we dreamt big. My list had one free agent signing, three re-signings and one blockbuster trade involving the Padres and Marlins. You can view my Christmas post from last season here.

Now, let’s get started on this year’s list. This San Diego Padres Christmas wish list will have only two transactions. One free agent signing and one blockbuster three-team, ten-player trade.

Free Agent Signing:

1.  Dallas Keuchel LHP- 4-years/$72 million

Trade proposal:

Marlins receive:

1.  Francisco Mejia-C
2.  Franmil Reyes-RF
3.  Michel Baez RHP
4.  Clint Frazier OF

Yankees receive:

1.  Wil Myers-1B
2. Cal Quantrill– RHP
3. Starlin Castro- 2B

Padres receive:

1.  J.T. Realmuto-C
2. Sonny Gray RH-SP
3.  Miguel Andujar-3B

There is my San Diego Padres Christmas wish list, fans. One free agent, top of the rotation, starting pitcher in Keuchel and a blockbuster trade that moves the needle towards contention.

Would this be a fair trade for all three teams?  The Marlins would be able to shed more salary with Castro (due $11 million in 2019) and they receive young, cost-controlled major league ready prospects. Miami gets back two-thirds of their possible starting outfield in Reyes and Frazier, a starting catcher in Mejia, while also getting a top 100 starting pitching prospect in Baez.

More from Friars on Base

• Fernando Tatis Jr. may not take to outfield move after Xander Bogaerts addition
• Padres News: Fernando Tatis Jr. trade rumors, Seth Lugo chase, Manny Machado
• Padres barely missed out on high-end veteran starting pitcher
• This veteran DH target seems ideal for contending Padres roster
• Padres got steal with Xander Bogaerts after Carlos Correa’s mega-deal

At first glance, it looks like the Yankees are getting the very short end of this trade scenario. However, this trade would allow the Yankees to fill second base with a familiar face in Castro,  and move current second-sacker Gleyber Torres to shortstop until Didi Gregorious returns from Tommy John surgery. Wil Myers gets a change of scenery and can move back to first base and New York can still go after Manny Machado or Bryce Harper do what the Yankees do every offseason.

It might seem very one-sided, from the Padres point of view, but that’s just not the case. Sure they get Realmuto, Andujar, and Gray, but not without uncertainty. Realmuto and Gray have limited control and everyone assumes Gray will be better once he is out of Yankee Stadium, but that isn’t a given. The payoff could also lead to an acceleration of the rebuild without having to sacrifice the future of the best farm system in baseball.

That’s my Christmas wish list for our San Diego Padres. What would your Christmas wish look like, Friar faithful? It’s your list, you can add whatever you want!