San Diego Padres: Three trade packages with the Boston Red Sox

Last week, the Boston Red Sox were reportedly interested in acquiring Wil Myers from the San Diego Padres. Might there be other trades that make sense?

Spring Training offers a unique time of the year. For us baseball fans, it’s a fresh start for our respective team’s quest at winning a World Series. And for others, it’s an opportunity to watch some of the prospects develop. The San Diego Padres are likely closer to winning a World Series than another rebuild and appear to be mostly set at several positions but could stand an upgrade here and there.

Wil Myers was reportedly drawing interest from the Boston Red Sox last week in what would effectively be a salary dump. Boston was said to be willing to take on half of Myers’ remaining salary, and the Padres would sweeten the deal with a couple of prospects to minimize the transition for the Red Sox.

When the report first surfaced, it didn’t make much sense as a straight-up deal, but then there were rumors that another team could get involved, like the Cincinnati Reds offering up Nick Senzel. That said, I don’t believe that the Reds would give up on Senzel already, given they are just now entering their competitive window. Still, a trade with the Red Sox can be achieved.

The 2018 World Series Champions parted with Mookie Betts and David Price earlier this month to clear up approximately $43 million and may not be done yet. As noted, the upcoming season figures to be a down year for Boston, so they could potentially send off a couple of other players that they either don’t plan on signing long-term or trade out of necessity.

Let’s look at three trades that make sense for both parties.

Adrian Morejon is another starting pitcher without a spot in the rotation and could be traded before the end of Spring Training. The former international free agent signing in July 2016 was projected to have a prominent role at the big league level last year, but he made just two starts and three appearances in relief.

Over a much larger sample size, Morejon posted a 4.25 ERA in 16 starts for Double-A Amarillo while striking out 44 batters in 36.0 innings. He battled shoulder impingements a couple of times last year, ultimately being shut down in early September, which explains the low number of innings.

He’s projected to be a front-line starter in a future rotation, and the Red Sox don’t exactly have a fifth starter set in stone for 2020. That guy figures to be Bryan Mata at some point, but he’s expected to begin the year in the minors. The 20-year-old struggled in 11 starts for Double-A Portland last year, so I imagine he’ll start at Triple-A and take it from there.

In return, I have the Padres acquiring a center fielder in Jackie Bradley Jr. The Red Sox reportedly are not going to bring him back after this season and could clear another $11 million by trading him. The Padres’ center field situation is unclear at the moment, with both Trent Grisham and Franchy Cordero battling for the starting gig. However, if acquired, JBJ could start in center, and one of the other two could slide over to right field.

Given the upside in Morejon, I also have the Padres acquiring Thad Ward from the Red Sox. The team’s fifth-round pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, posted a combined 2.14 ERA in 25 starts last season between Single-A and High-A. He’s projected to be ready at some point in 2021, and scouts are raving about his slider.

Baseball Trade Value favors this trade heavily in the direction of the Red Sox but would fill the Padres’ immediate need in center and long-term stability in the rotation.

Taylor Trammell profiles as a true center fielder, assuming his arm strength develops as he continues to mature physically. If not, he could slide over one of the corner outfield spots. He came over in the three-team deal that centered around Trevor Bauer last year and could be a long-term replacement after Jackie Bradley Jr. walks in free agency.

Trammell is expected to see the big leagues this season, and his upside is tremendous. He slashed a combined .234/.340/.349 line with ten home runs and 43 RBI in 126 games at the Double-A level last year, but the bat should come along as he fills out.

I have the Padres acquiring Michael Chavis straight-up in this trade. Baseball Trade Value gives a slight edge to the Red Sox, but similar to the previous trade, Chavis could fill a long-term need at second base. Right now, it’s a three-way battle for the starting position among Brian Dozier, Jurickson Profar, and Greg Garcia.

Dozier was brought in just a couple of days ago, which tells me that General Manager AJ Preller isn’t satisfied with his options at second. Chavis isn’t the best defender at second base, logging a .975 fielding percentage in 360.0 innings, but he’s not going to have an immediate opportunity to play at his natural position at first base.

Still, you have to like what he offers offensively, slashing .254/.322/.444 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI in 95 games with the Red Sox last year. Chavis is under contract the through the 2024 season, which could see a potential shift to first base if the Padres were to decline Eric Hosmer’s player options starting in 2023.