Padres' in-division foe could provide outfield help in potential trade

Mickey Moniak may not be widely known around Major League Baseball, yet the NL West is a different story. With Moniak, the Colorado Rockies are outfield rich, while the San Diego Padres could use an outfielder to solidify their defense, and add oomph to their lineup. A potential trade for the streaking Moniak could make sense for the Friars. Everyone knows the Rockies are ready to sell, but would they sell to a division foe?

There are variables the Padres must consider however. In a recent article for MLB, Thomas Harding mentioned Moniak's immediate love for Coors Field, a well-known, hitter-friendly park. The Padres must assess if Moniak can maintain his offensive output at Petco. By the numbers, Moniak has more home runs than Gavin Sheets with significantly less at bats.

Padres could look into in-division trade with Rockies to reinforce outfield needs

For Moniak, there's the comfortability of family in Colorado, but the Padres could offer so much more, including a chance to play for a contender in the postseason, which is enough to reinvigorate any player. Moniak is a professional, and has proven his adaptability over the course of his career. For the Friars, shoring up that last outfield spot could be the difference of an early or late postseason run.

It's always a longshot for division rivals to work together on a trade, but the Padres keep their eyes peeled on all their NL rivals, even the lowly Rockies. Defensively, Moniak is fast as they come, and would have no problems immediately upgrading the Friars on the bases by stealing or pinch-running.

The Padres shouldn't see Moniak's recent power hitting as an altitude-assisted fluke. Moniak explains his strengths to Harding when he says, "try to hit line drives to the gaps, and use my speed for doubles and maybe triples."

Still, Moniak's best attribute may not be his speed but his musical knowledge. His walk-up song is 1982 hit, "Electric Avenue," by Eddy Grant, which most don't know is actually a protest song. These subtle nuances are easy to catch fire in baseball. Perhaps Moniak and the accompanying "Electric Avenue" can further electrify the Friars' fan base at Petco Park. For that to happen though, the Padres must first see if the Rockies are willing to sell.