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

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.