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3 ways the San Diego Padres can be winners at the 2022 MLB trade deadline

By Rylie Smith |
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 19: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals bats against the American League during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Dodger Stadium on July 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 19: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals bats against the American League during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Dodger Stadium on July 19, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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The San Diego Padres have already been linked to some pretty good players as they gear up for the trade deadline, and their chances of acquiring some quality help seem pretty high.

The Padres are still without Fernando Tatis Jr., which is certainly noticeable and making success more difficult in San Diego.

Their already decent playoff odds (76.4% as of July 21) may increase significantly this season if they can acquire some of these targets and bring these players back into the roster.

These three moves could help maximize the Padres potential around the trade deadline.

Padres potential trade for Juan Soto

If the Padres can land Washington Nationals slugger Juan Soto by the trade deadline, they’d undoubtedly be a big threat in the playoffs. Several teams are targeting Soto, and he recently rejected a 15-year $440 million contract, which would have been the largest in MLB history.

Landing Soto would be the biggest win. He’d bring power to the lineup that would make the team difficult to defeat alongside current sluggers Manny Machado and Tatis, when he returns.

Soto is batting .250/.405/.497 for an OPS of .902. He’s hit 20 home runs over 312 at-bats. He also recently won the 2022 Home Run Derby.

If he gets traded to the Padres, he’ll be the home run leader and would have the best on-base percentage and OPS. He’d also have the best walk and strike percentages (20.1 and 13.7, respectively).

The Padres need more power in the lineup, as stated earlier in the season by manager Bob Melvin. Soto would be one of the best solutions to that issue.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 02: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres bats against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on October 02, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 02: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres bats against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on October 02, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

Padres slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. coming off the injured list

Padres slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. entered this season on the injured list with a wrist fracture and has yet to make his season debut. While this wouldn’t be a trade, getting the superstar back in the lineup for the first time all year would be equivalent to acquiring another star.

Tatis has only played three seasons so far, and he had one of his bests in 2021. He hit .282/.364/.611 for an OPS of .975. He also produced a great isolated power of .328.

Since he’s been out all season, his impacts on the team would be new to 2022, but the Padres obviously wouldn’t have to invest anything new for him.

His chances of coming back by then are realistic. He reportedly began his hitting progression on July 15. If all goes as planned and he continues to progress, he could likely join the lineup as a designated hitter, at the very least, around the trade deadline.

CINCINNATI, OHIO – JULY 08: Luis Castillo #58 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Great American Ball Park on July 08, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – JULY 08: Luis Castillo #58 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Great American Ball Park on July 08, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Padres trading for pitcher Luis Castillo

The Padres reportedly have been eyeing Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Castillo, according to MLB insider Jon Heyman. Though the Padres aren’t lacking in talent on the mound, they could benefit from trading for Castillo.

This season, Castillo has an ERA of 2.77, BAA of .199 and WHIP of 1.08.

Current Padres pitchers Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish are two that shouldn’t be considered for trade, but there are some pitchers in the rotation underperforming this season that may be enticing in a trade package with some prospects.

Trending. Padres rumors we're tracking for the trade deadline. light

Castillo is also being looked at by other teams, reportedly the Minnesota Twins and New York Mets. If the Padres can manage to land him, they’d be on the right path to overtaking their division rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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