Padres: After missing out on Mookie Betts, time for Wil Myers to step up

The San Diego Padres weren’t able to land Mookie Betts in a trade and subsequently move Wil Myers, now it’s time  to deal with that reality going into 2020.

It was always a long shot for the San Diego Padres to move Wil Myers‘ contract and acquire Mookie Betts.

But the fact remains, Preller will most likely not be able to move Myers this offseason, which means it’s time for him to step up in 2020.

Going into the offseason I think Preller felt pretty confident he would be able to move most of Myers’ contract, but that clearly wasn’t the case.

It’s time for us to realize that Myers will be on this team in 2020, and that might not be such a bad thing.

Look, Myers has not been great the past two years and was just a 0.5 WAR player in 2019.

But his name has been drug through the mud this offseason like he can’t be a productive player, and that’s just not the case.

I did a little deeper dive earlier this offseason on what we should expect from Myers in 2020.

In there I mention that Myers was a much better hitter in the second half of 2019 and I think he could pretty easily be a 2 WAR player in 2020 with upside to be a 3 WAR player, which he’s only done once in his career.

It wouldn’t be all that surprising to see him hit .250 with 20 home runs, and I think most fans would take that type of production.

He also won’t be leaned on as much this season because of the depth the Padres have in the outfield and in the lineup.

But I also think he gets a lot more starts at first base to platoon with Eric Hosmer; although, Myers has hit righties better in his career.

More than anything, I just hope Myers goes into 2020 with a chip on his shoulder after hearing all the trade talk this offseason.

I know he has a ton of money, but at some point it becomes a pride thing. Hopefully he wants to come out and prove to everyone, and himself, that he can still be a productive big league player.

And that’s certainly what the Padres want to see as well, because I can almost guarantee you they’ll try to trade him again next offseason. And with just two years left on his deal at that point, it would be much easier to trade him then if he’s coming off a good season.