Padres unlikely to go after Trevor Bauer this offseason

If you had high hopes for Trevor Bauer in a Padres uniform this offseason, don’t count on it says one beat writer for the team.

For the first time in quite a while, pitching is not on the top of the Padres to-do list this offseason. The team may add insurance with the unknown health of both Mike Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet, but don’t expect them to go after the big fish in Trevor Bauer.

According to The Athletic’s Dennis Lin, he indicated that the Padres once had an interest in the 29-year-old. But that was before his 2020 performance likely pushed him out of their price range.

Whoever lands Trevor Bauer is likely to secure a long-term deal at easily $30M+ AAV. If the Padres 2021 season were to begin today, I’d peg Chris Paddack, Zach Davies, and Adrian Morejon to fill in the other three spots in the rotation.

On the flip side, Bauer could take a one-year deal, as monetary compensation could be tricky again next year, with the COVID-19 pandemic still prevalent. Not to mention that the league Collective Bargaining Agreement expires after the 2021 season.

So while it would be nice to have a guy who finally found “it” about a year ago, it seems like a pipe dream at the moment. The Padres could be interested in an expiring contract like Lance Lynn, or something equivalent, for insurance.

If you’ve been paying any attention to his social media account, he’s been watching the MLB Playoffs and teams that have struggled with injuries in their rotation, implying that he would be a good fit. And according to a recent report, Bauer will speak with Clevinger about the potential of playing in San Diego next season.

We’ll see if anything materializes.