Grading the Padres’ big-name trade acquisitions in postseason

What the San Diego Padres accomplished at the trade deadline was unprecedented. Was it as substantial as the Dodgers netting Max Scherzer and Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals in 2021? If not, it’s pretty darn close.

From acquiring the game’s best closer in Josh Hader, a generational talent in Juan Soto, slugging first baseman in Josh Bell and an underrated utility man who tallied 28 home runs and 87 RBI during the regular season in Brandon Drury, general manager A.J. Preller put his cub in an excellent position to bring home a championship and his efforts have been rewarded with a trip to the NLCS against the Phillies.

Unfortunately, the Padres find themselves in a 2-1 hole after Game 3, which ended in controversial fashion and saw Jurickson Profar ejected.

With their backs against the wall, San Diego needs their high-profile deadline acquisitions to come through in Saturday’s all-important Game 4. To prepare for the game, let’s grade how the four pickups have performed in October.

Grading the Padres’ star trade acquisitions in the playoffs

4. Josh Bell

Josh Bell did a lot in Game 2 of the NLCS to get back on the good side of Padres fans because it had been a struggle for the former National.

Entering Friday’s Game against Philadelphia, Bell was slashing .222/.250/.444 with a .694 OPS. He’s clubbed two big home runs, but you’d expect more than six hits and four RBI from a player who hit .301 with with 14 homers and 57 RBI over 103 games with Washington this season before the trade.

In the Padres’ series-saving comeback in Game 2, Bell delivered three hits, including a home run in the second inning to counter Philly’s four-run rally. Again, the former All-Star had three hits in six games before Wednesday but came back down to earth in Game 3.

The slugger’s signature moment included hitting into a rally-killing double play with the Padres knocking on the door (runners on the corners and one out) in the sixth inning. Trailing 3-2, Bell pinch hit for Will Meyers, who had gone 0-for-2 and fans are now left wondering if that was the right call by Bob Melvin.

There’s still time for Bell to redeem himself — another big game with the Padres down in the series would do the trick — but it’s impossible to deny at this point that the former All-Star has been a disappointment in October.

Grade: C-