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Grading each Padres trade: 2022 MLB Trade deadline

By Rylie Smith |
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader (71) throws against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Josh Hader (71) throws against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
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The San Diego Padres made some good moves to fix several needs at the MLB trade deadline and managed to land one of the biggest names in MLB.

The Padres have been performing extremely well this season despite a lack of power in the lineup and several top players joining the injured list, including Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jurickson Profar.

However, there are several areas they needed to improve. The outfield has seemed to be a priority since the beginning of the season. First base was an area of concern with Eric Hosmer underperforming this season.

Their starting pitchers held the team together, but without them, the Padres likely would’ve been in a much worse spot this season. San Diego seemingly focused on those for the trade deadline.

Here is every Padres trade made by the deadline graded.

Acquiring Closer Josh Hader, B+

Closer Josh Hader was traded from the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday for Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet, Robert Gasser and Esteury Ruiz. He was the first trade for the Padres this season.

The Padres have quite a few good starting pitchers, including Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish and Mike Clevinger. Their closers, however, aren’t as good. Rogers was one of their best closing pitchers this season, but Hader has a history that shows much more potential than Rogers.

Hader carries an ERA of 4.24, batting average against of .203 and WHIP of 1.12 this season. This is the first season of his career his WHIP has been above 1.00. He may not be having his best season, but he can potentially do a lot for the Padres. Milwaukee fans certainly aren’t happy to lose him.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 23: Right fielder Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals swings during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 23, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 23: Right fielder Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals swings during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 23, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images) /

Acquiring OF Juan Soto, A+

An A+ may not be a high enough grade for Washington Nationals star Juan Soto. When you acquire a young superstar, you win the trade.

Soto was targeted by several teams after turning down a 15-year $440 million extension, and the Padres managed to present the best deal to land the young slugger.

Soto is currently having his worst season. However, his worst looks better than most player’s bests. He won the 2022 Home Run Derby and is hitting .246/.408/.485 for an OPS of .893.

San Diego traded quite a few players and prospects for Soto. According to NBC Sports Washington, “Washington acquired two recently graduated prospects in shortstop C.J. Abrams and starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore, as well as three minor leaguers in outfielder Robert Hassell III, outfielder James Wood and right-handed pitcher Jarlin Susana.”

Soto will play alongside Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, which will quickly become a lineup to be feared in the league.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: Josh Bell #19 of the Washington Nationals tosses his bat as he runs to first base after being walked against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: Josh Bell #19 of the Washington Nationals tosses his bat as he runs to first base after being walked against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

Acquiring 1B Josh Bell, A

The Padres convinced the Nationals to trade first baseman Josh Bell alongside Soto, which is a huge accomplishment. Bell is another slugger who will certainly bring needed improvements at first base in the lineup.

This season, Bell is hitting .301/.384/.493 for an OPS of .877. He’s hitting slightly better than Machado, who has carried the lineup all season in the absence of Tatis.

Bell has produced 14 home runs this season, seven of which were in June. He’ll be replacing Eric Hosmer, who was recently traded to the Boston Red Sox and has underperformed this season. Hosmer hit .272/.336/.391 for an OPS of .727.

He’ll also be replacing Luke Voit, who was included in the trade package to the Nationals. Voit is hitting .225/.317/.416 for an OPS of .733.

The Padres have 85.1 percent playoff odds, according to FanGraphs, and landing Bell alongside Soto could help them increase their odds.

Sep 3, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (left) tosses his helmet after striking out to end the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2021; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer (left) tosses his helmet after striking out to end the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

Trading1B Eric Hosmer, A

The Padres traded first baseman Eric Hosmer away to the Boston Red Sox. Hosmer was underperforming this season, so trading for Bell and then sending Hosmer elsewhere was a good decision.

The Padres originally tried to include him in a trade package for Soto and Bell, but Hosmer is on a no-trade clause and rejected the deal. The Padres are paying a “significant portion” of the rest of his contract to the Red Sox, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Hosmer wasn’t doing well with the Padres, but he’ll likely be able to help the Red Sox where they need it. Hosmer is hitting .272/.336/.391 for an OPS of .727 this season. His numbers are skewed by success earlier in the season. By the end of June, he was hitting a low .202/.248/.319.

Though the Padres are still dishing out money on Hosmer, they’re giving him the opportunity to play where he’s actually needed rather than holding the team back by keeping him in San Diego.

CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 29: Brandon Drury #22 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park on July 29, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cincinnati 6-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 29: Brandon Drury #22 of the Cincinnati Reds bats during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park on July 29, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cincinnati 6-2. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Acquiring 3B Brandon Drury, B+

The Padres acquired Cincinnati Reds third baseman Brandon Drury. It’s not much of a surprise that Drury was traded. According to Drew Koch with Blog Red Machine, Drury was one of the most likely to be traded from the Reds.

Drury is having a highly successful season, but his past hasn’t been consistent. The Padres also don’t need another third baseman, considering current third baseman Manny Machado is their best hitter so far this season.

However, Drury could still be utilized as a designated hitter and will improve the lineup overall. Drury is hitting .274/.335/.520 for an OPS of .855 this season.

This is the first season Drury has produced a slugging percentage above .500 and an OPS above .800. He’s expected to be great for the Padres this season, but his long-term impact is questionable considering his inconsistent history.

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