Padres: Trevor Bauer offers thoughts on joining Mike Clevinger in San Diego

Trevor Bauer will reportedly talk to Mike Clevinger in the offseason about joining the Padres.

Trevor Bauer will arguably be the most coveted free agent on the market this offseason. And in a recent YouTube live stream question session, the potential Cy Young winner will discuss the notion with Padres starter Mike Clevinger about coming to San Diego.

“I have not talked to Clev about the city, kind of stayed away and let him be in his playoff mindset and all that. But probably have some conversations about it this offseason. Padres are a fun team to watch. That Game 2 against the Cardinals was so exciting. It was so fun. When Tatis hit that three-run homer, they just caught fire.”

Clevinger and Bauer, of course, pitched together in Cleveland before Bauer was traded to Cincinnati. The latter spent the last year and a half in a Reds uniform and put up gaudy numbers in the shortened season. The 29-year-old posted a 1.73 ERA in 11 starts with 100 strikeouts and a 0.79 WHIP.

He put a stamp on his 2020 season with a 12 strikeout performance against the Braves in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, albeit a losing effort. Still, he allowed just 2 hits over 7.2 innings and didn’t walk anyone.

If this postseason has been any indication, the Padres could certainly use more pitching. With Dinelson Lamet and Clevinger both missing the first round of the playoffs, it’s a miracle the Padres are still alive. They hope to have both back for the NLDS series against the Dodgers, starting on Tuesday.

But Chris Paddack’s regression from a promising rookie year, Garrett Richards’ impending free agency, and the unknown status of both Luis Patino and MacKenzie Gore next year leaves much open to interpretation. Bauer would be a welcome addition, but he’s also going to cost a lot of money.