San Diego Padres: A Mookie Betts trade unlikely, but that's OK

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Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox San Diego Padres trade rumors. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

As we get closer to Spring Training it seems more-and-more likely a trade for Mookie Betts to the San Diego Padres won’t happen, and that’s perfectly fine.

We’re now in February and just two weeks away from pitchers and catcher reporting for the San Diego Padres.

There’s still a chance we could see a big trade happen, but at this point I’m more inclined to think that teams are just ready to get into the season and see what happens.

The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs both have teams good enough to win in 2020. Why not at least go into the season with the teams they have and see what happens?

I mean, these are storied franchises who are all about winning. Are you telling me they’re going to punt on a season because of the luxury tax?

It’s just hard to imagine that happening.

I was listening to the East Village Times podcast where they interviewed Jim Callis from MLB Pipeline. And towards the end of the podcast they ask Callis about the rumored trade between the Padres and Red Sox for Mookie Betts.

The rant that follows is epic and that’s exactly how I feel about the rumors. Why in the world would the Red Sox, who are trying to cut money, do a deal in which they’re taking on money — especially when that money is tied to one Wil Myers?

And even if they were willing to do that, there is no way that happens without the Padres giving up MacKenzie Gore, Luis Patino, or CJ Abrams.

If A.J. Preller had a deal on the table in which he got Betts for Myers and didn’t have to give up one of this top three prospects, that deal should have been agreed upon already. It doesn’t matter how much of the money Boston is willing to eat, that deal should be done.

As I wrote the other day, it makes much more sense for the Red Sox to trade Betts straight up for prospects. Why create a complicated trade where you’re going to take on more money and not get an elite prospect?

I say all that to tell you, don’t get depressed when Betts doesn’t come to the Padres this offseason. If he goes to the Dodgers, then yea, maybe you have a right to be upset.

But I personally think Betts doesn’t get moved until July, and I think the Padres are fine with that happening.

Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Why the Padres are fine

Maybe it’s Spring optimism, but I’m really excited about the team the Padres already have. They’ve made moves this offseason that certainly make them better in 2020.

Tommy Pham is going to be a huge on-base guy atop the lineup, Jurickson Profar should help lengthen the lineup, Zach Davies will give the team some innings at the back of the rotation, Trent Grisham has some upside to help strengthen the outfield, and Drew Pomeranz will play a big roll in limiting the innings from the young starters and bridging the gap to Kirby Yates.

And while I don’t expect Tatis to hit 40 home runs like he was on pace to do in 2019, I certainly expect he’ll be healthy all season and be a real force atop the lineup.

I also wrote earlier this offseason that I think Machado is primed for a big bounce-back season after a year of adjustment in San Diego.

Related Story. Machado ready to break out in SD. light

There is also the hope we could see top prospect MacKenzie Gore join the starting rotation not long into the season, which would be a big boost to the pitching staff.

Not to keep plugging my articles, but I wrote about the possibility of Garrett Richards becoming a top of the rotation pitcher once again.

Perhaps this is just me getting exciting with Spring Training so close, but I really feel good about where this team is at.

And those who are much smarter than me apparently feel the same way as most betting and projection sites have the Padres as an 83-to-86 win team that could possibly earn a Wild Card spot.

Chris Paddack #59 of the San Diego Padres. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Gotta prove it

While I understand trading for Mookie Betts now would certainly make the Padres a favorite to win a wild card spot going into the season, it makes more sense to let this team prove they can win first before making such a short-sighted moved.

Again, I’m under the assumption Betts is more likely to get moved during the season and will still be available at the trade deadline.

This team was a .500 team going into July last season and I really think Preller was ready to add for a playoff run.

But then team absolutely collapsed, Tatis later got injured, and the young pitching seemed to wear down.

Point being, as excited as I am about this team going into 2020, you never know how a season is going to unfold. And an injury or two early in the season could completely derail everything.

And while I think the arms in the starting rotation have the potential to be really good, Richards and Dinelson Lamet are big question marks.

If this team starts out hot and everything is going the way we hope, then Preller will still have the same options to upgrade this team at the trade deadline.

That’s probably the smart way to let this play out as well.

I’m certainly not going to be upset if they trade for Betts now, and as I said at the top, if that rumored deal is even a possibility the Padres would be stupid to not accept that deal.

But I can also understand wanting to wait and see just what this team is capable of in the first half of the season before making a big slash in a trade.

Next. What Bryant would cost the Padres. dark

I believe this team is good enough now to compete going into the season, and I’m perfectly fine with waiting until the trade deadline to make a move that possibly puts them over the top. And there may be even better players available then.

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San Diego Padres: A Mookie Betts trade unlikely, but that’s OK

As we get closer to Spring Training it seems more-and-more likely a trade for Mookie Betts to the San Diego Padres won’t happen, and that’s perfectly fine.

Why the Padres are fine

Gotta prove it

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