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-

3. Juan Soto

Much like Bell, Padres fans have been left wanting more from Soto, Bell’s teammate in Washington. Soto was nails against the Mets, .hitting 333/385/.333 with two RBI but has fallen off a cliff at the plate since and his defense in right field has left a lot to be desired … and sparks more questions about his Gold Glove nomination.

Entering Game 3 in Philadelphia, Soto was batting .156 (four hits in 24 at bats) with two doubles and two RBI apiece in the NLDS and NLCS. Though Soto is slumping for his standards, his knack for delivering timely hits remains unquestioned.

That would normally lead us to grading him on a curve, but the defensive struggles can’t be ignored after Friday. In the second inning, he took an awful angle trying to cut off a Bryson Stott single in the gap and the ball rolled to the wall allowing Stott to stretch it into a double. Nothing came of it, but that cannot happen in the NLCS.

In the sixth inning, Soto was unable to make a diving catch on a Alec Bohm screamer with two outs. The runner on second came home to score to give the Phillies a 4-2 lead and we’re left wondering if Soto should’ve simply fielded the liner on a bounce.

Given how hard the ball was hit, Soto would’ve had a shot nailing Nick Castellanos (not the fleetest of foot), who was running on contact.

Like Bell, Soto, while still productive and making himself heard, hasn’t lived up to expectation this postseason to date.

Grade: C+ 

1. Josh Hader

Finally, someone who’s been consistent since the calendar turned to October. Hader’s Padres tenure got off to a nightmarish start. Fans will recall the jokes and trolling from Brewers and Dodgers fans when the left-handed closer owned a 25.71 ERA (12 runs on 12 hits in 4.2 innings) over his first seven appearances.

Hader rediscovered his All-Star form down the stretch of the regular season and evidently used that finish as a springboard into October, where he’s been un-hittable. It’s almost a shame the Padres haven’t used him as much as they have.

In five playoff appearances, Hader has yet to allowed an earned run to go with 10 strikeouts and four saves. It’s a small sample size, yes, but Hader hasn’t given up a hit or allowed a baserunner since Game 2 against the Dodgers.

There’s no way around it: Hader’s been flawless this postseason and it’s no coincidence the Padres have won every game he’s appeared in.

Grade: A+

Padres’ Josh Hader made MLB playoff history with Game 2 dominance

After striking out the side in Game 2, Padres closer Josh Hader became the first pitcher in postseason history to strike out eight consecutive batters.