Perfect Padres lineup upgrade could be waiting in the Cardinals’ clubhouse

The Padres will have a dire need for a first baseman if Luis Arráez and Ryan O’Hearn both choose to depart in free agency. The team has way too much of a need for starting pitching, and it will be very difficult to bring back either of them.

The first base market in 2026 is incredibly slim, with Pete Alonso being the biggest name out there. Then you have smaller names such as Rhys Hoskins and Wilmer Flores, who are more affordable, but don’t bring the same type of bat to the lineup.

Willson Contreras could be the surprise Padres lineup upgrade hiding in plain sight

This shortage should give president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, the incentive to explore the trade market to address the vacancy. A strategy to make this happen is to phone teams that are going to sell off most of their roster either now or ahead of the trade deadline. Following an approach like this, in which we already recommended them to use when it came to starting pitching, could make or break the offseason.

If starting pitching is a priority, phone the Minnesota Twins. However, if you are looking for bats and position players, then contact the St. Louis Cardinals.

St. Louis has officially begun their long-overdue fire sale, as the team traded right-hander Sonny Gray to the Boston Redsox only a week ago, the first of many trades expected from the NL Central club. The team will most definitely be listening in on offers for Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, and Brendan Donovan.

If we were in Preller’s shoes, we would be phoning in with St. Louis in hopes of arranging a trade package that would send Contreras over to Southern California. The 2016 World Series champion has the ability to not only play first base, as he used to be one of the best backstops (catchers) in the league. 

The need for a first baseman is one thing, but people forget that the Padres had by far the worst catching tandem in the league ahead of the trade deadline. Manned by Elías Díaz and Martín Maldonado, the two were a combined 32% worse than the league average hitter.

Obviously, Preller was able to combat the piss-poor play by acquiring Freddy Fermin via trade, but it is clear he is not an “everyday catcher.” Bringing in Contreras may not immediately solve the problem at catcher, but it would definitely assist at first base.

In 2025, Contreras slashed .257/.344/.447 with a 123 OPS+. Not too bad a season for the 33-year-old. The Padres would take on the remaining two years, $36.5 million of Contreras’ contract, which has a club-option attached for 2028. 

This is an under-the-radar move that would be intriguing for the Padres, as it would give them the chance to knock out two birds with one stone.