3 positions the Padres need to upgrade by the trade deadline

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The San Diego Padres have had an inconsistent season with multiple sluggers joining the injured list and a lack of offensive power. Seemingly, the Padres are anticipating changes approaching the trade deadline.

Some positions are bringing power into the lineup, whereas others are not. The Padres don’t need much help at third base or shortstop with Manny Machado and Fernando Tatís Jr, anticipating a return soon for Tatís. However, the power drops off quite a bit elsewhere.

San Diego would benefit most if these positions are upgraded by the trade deadline this season.

San Diego Padres outfield

The Padres, overall, lack power in the outfield. They have good talent with Jurickson Profar leading the position, but more can be done to develop where they lack.

Profar doesn’t hit with much power, but he does have a great eye. He currently has the lowest strikeout rate (14.5 percent) and highest walk rate (12.8 percent) on the team. He’s hitting .244/.345/.399 with an isolated power of .156.

The Padres seem to be focusing heavily on improving the outfield. Trade rumors of Andrew Benintendi and Bryan Reynolds have surfaced from East Village Times, both of which would be good options.

Between the two, Reynolds would be the ideal option but Benintendi may be a slightly more realistic one.

Reynolds is a great power hitter. He’s hitting .260/.333/.469 with an isolated power of .209 this season. However, he doesn’t have great strikeout or walk rates. He’s one of the best hitters currently on the Pittsburgh Pirates and is involved in trade talk among multiple other teams.

Benintendi, on the other hand, doesn’t offer much power but is similar to Profar with a great eye. He’s hitting .316/.387/.404 with an isolated power of .088 this season. He has a low strikeout rate (13.7 percent) and a good walk rate (10.4 percent). He’d help enhance the lineup.

Benintendi doesn’t seem to have as many eyes on him for the upcoming trade, and San Diego has shown interest for quite a while.

SAN DIEGO, CA – JUNE 20: Austin Nola #26 of the San Diego Padres walks to the dugout before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 20, 2022 at Petco Park in San Diego, California. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) /

San Diego Padres catcher

The Padres don’t have much going for them in the lineup from their catchers. Austin Nola doesn’t provide power and has a poor on-base percentage. This season, he’s hitting .233/.301/.302 with low isolated power of .069. His strikeout percentage (15.3 percent) isn’t too bad, but his walk percentage (7.4 percent) is low.

Jorge Alfaro is Nola’s only relief, and though Alfaro has power, he has an insanely high strikeout rate (34.9 percent) and low walk rate (4.7 percent). He’s hitting .272/.308/.456 with an isolated power of .184.

Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras has been a player discussed as a Padres trade candidate, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Realistically, he probably won’t end up in San Diego, but he’d be a good player to target. Contreras is hitting .274/.392/.498 with an isolated power of .224 this season. His strikeout rate (20.7 percent) is average, but his walk rate (11.3 percent) is above average.

He’s under a $9.625 million contract this season and is eligible for free agency next season.

San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (30)– Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

San Diego Padres first base/DH

First base is an area the Padres need some growth. Eric Hosmer and Luke Voit are currently the first basemen and are underperforming in the lineup.

Hosmer is hitting .272/.329/.387 with an isolated power of .115. His strikeout rate (16.8 percent) is good, but his walk rate (7.9 percent) is just below average. He’s mainly been in the lineup as first baseman, whereas Voit has mainly been the designated hitter.

Voit is significantly underperforming compared to previous seasons. In 2020 with the New York Yankees, he had an isolated power of .333. Now, it’s down to .195. His strikeout rate (33.7 percent) is the highest it’s been in his career. His walk rate (11.4 percent), however, is above average. He’s hitting .229/.318/.424.

There aren’t any known trade rumors at first base yet, but it could be a position worth upgrading.

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