Padres should make run at 2 Blue Jays catchers after latest buzz

Getting the catcher position right can be the difference between winning and losing a playoff series, especially considering how stars at that position are in short supply. If the San Diego Padres are in a trading mood once again, this could be one area where they look to make quick improvements.

While Austin Nola had some moments in the postseason (including an RBI against his brother Aaron), the combination of him and Jorge Alfaro can best be described as average, to say the least. To be fair to San Diego, it’s rare for a team to have multiple high-end players behind the plate.

The Toronto Blue Jays, however, are one of those teams. With an All-Star in Alejandro Kirk, a power threat in Danny Jansen, and one of the game’s top prospects in Gabriel Moreno, Ross Atkins is spoiled for choice. That logjam might force Toronto to make some trades.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network said that rival executives believe that the Blue Jays are going to trade one of their catchers. While top prospect Moreno is likely not going anywhere, the idea of acquiring an All-Star in Kirk or a legit power threat in Jansen will appeal to A.J. Preller.

San Diego Padres rumors: Will SD trade for a Blue Jays catcher?

Kirk hit .285 with 14 home runs and just 58 strikeouts, though he was hitting well over .300 for most of the season. Kirk coming to San Diego is unlikely, as he’ll require multiple pro players and top prospects to convince the Jays that he’s worth parting ways with.

Moreno was one of the top prospects in baseball before losing his eligibility late in the season while getting shuttled between the Jays and Triple-A Buffalo. A .319 average and 111 OPS+ shows that his bat is a plus tool that could help him develop into one of the game’s top backstops. Toronto isn’t giving him away for cheap.

Jansen is right in the sweet spot, as a few pro-ready prospects could go to Toronto in exchange for a guy who has hit 26 home runs and 23 doubles over 142 games during parts of the last two seasons. Under team control until 2025, the 27-year-old could be entering his prime.

Kirk and Jansen might seem like difficult pieces to acquire with the collection of prospects San Diego has right now, but far be it from me to question a GM who acquired Juan Soto. Nola’s spot as the starting catcher might not be overly secure.

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