3 rival trade rumors that could be disastrous for the San Diego Padres

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As the 2023 trade deadline inches closer and closer, it's becoming more apparent that the San Diego Padres and GM A.J. Preller could very well be sellers. There are still four games before the deadline, so their course can still change with a good weekend against the Texas Rangers.

The odds are stacked against the Padres at this point, but anything is possible with a winning streak, just ask the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals and Billy Beane's Oakland Athletics teams that put together late winning streaks to find their way into the postseason.

While it appears the Friars are going to need a strong weekend against the Rangers, that's not the case for some of their rivals. The Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Arizona Diamondbacks are all in the hunt for a playoff spot. Unless something strange happens, the Dodgers appear to be in the driver's seat to win the National League West, with the Giants and Diamondbacks fighting for one of the three Wild Card spots with three other teams.

All three teams have been part of rumors recently and there are some moves that their rivals could make that could be disastrous to the Padres.

San Diego Padres rivals linked to multiple trade rumors and it would be tough for the Friars to compete with them

The rumors are going to ramp up over the next four days and just what the three teams ahead of the Padres do in the standings could make a late-season run much more difficult.

Wild Card Series - Philadelphia Phillies v St. Louis Cardinals - Game Two / Stacy Revere/GettyImages

1. The Los Angeles Dodgers could be looking to acquire Nolan Arenado from the Cardinals

The Dodgers have already made two minor moves, acquiring Kiké Hernandez from the Boston Red Sox Tuesday and then Amed Rosario from the Cleveland Guardians Wednesday. Those two moves are not going to be a difference-maker for Los Angeles, but it gives them more middle infield options and allows Mookie Betts to play full-time in the outfield.

Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reported that the Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals have had trade talks centered around third baseman Nolan Arenado. If that trade happens, it would not be good for the Padres.

Acquiring Arenado, an eight-time All-Star, would mean San Diego would see him for the next four seasons as he has four years remaining on his contract. A power-hitting corner infielder is not what the Friars want to see Los Angeles get. His numbers for the season are down as he's slashing .286/.334/.520, but he does have 22 home runs and 77 RBI. Adding his bat into a lineup around Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy is not something San Diego wants to see.

If the Dodgers do indeed acquire Arenado, that would spell disaster for only the final two months of this season, but also for the future. It appears that St. Louis is going to listen to anything that comes their way and the Dodgers have already been aggressive and will continue to be.

Cincinnati Reds v Chicago White Sox / Jonathan Daniel/GettyImages

2. The San Francisco Giants are looking for middle infield help and Tim Anderson could land in the Bay Area

The Giants are slumping and find themselves going from locked into a Wild Card spot to fighting four other teams for one of the three spots. Pitching is one area that Gabe Kapler's crew could use, but they are also rumored to be in the market for a shortstop.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported that the Giants are one of a number of teams looking to add middle infield help at the trade deadline. The Chicago White Sox are having a bad season again and they appear headed to a rebuild which would make several pieces available to teams. One of those pieces is shortstop Tim Anderson.

Since San Francisco backed away from Carlos Correa last winter, they have been looking for an impactful middle infielder and Anderson would be that guy. This season, the former Silver Slugger winner in 2020 is slashing just .244/.284/.284 with 18 RBI. He is a patient hitter that works the count and draws walks and has the speed to be impactful on the bases.

His contract situation for 2024 has a $14 million option that Chicago will not want to pick up, which could help in the return for him. If things work out for the Giants and if they acquire him, they could easily pick that up and a change of scenery could do him good. There is too much more talent that is there than what he has shown this season and he could be an impactful player against the Padres not only in the last months of this seaosn but also next season and maybe beyond.

Detroit Tigers v Tampa Bay Rays / Julio Aguilar/GettyImages

3. The Arizona Diamondbacks are keeping tabs of Tigers pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez

Another season for the Detroit Tigers that is going to end up with them selling. They have some pieces on the mound that teams would love to add by August 1. One of them is lefty Eduardo Rodriguez.

According to MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand, several teams are keeping an eye on Rodriguez, including the Arizona Diamondbacks. For any team acquiring him, his contract is tricky as he signed a five-year, $77 million deal with Detroit before the 2022 season and he has an opt-out available after his second season, which just happens to be after the next two months. He can either play out the final three years of his deal for $49 million or opt-out and bet on himself.

This season, the former Boston Red Sox hurler is 6-5 with a 2.97 ERA for the Tigers with a WHIP of 1.03. He has good control all season, walking just 21 batters in 88.1 innings pitched and he has 91 strikeouts. Adding him to Arizona's staff for the final two months would give them a step up over the Padres with a reliable arm every fifth day.

The Diamondbacks were rumored to be taking a less aggressive approach to the deadline, but they are a year ahead of schedule in terms of contending and you never know from year to year how things will go. Just ask San Diego.

Arizona is an up-and-coming young team and, if Rodriguez likes it there, he could stay there for three more years and most likely contending for at least a Wild Card spot. Three years of Rodriguez in the NL West would be disastrous for the Padres.

San Diego hopes that most, if not all, of these rumors, come true. because if they do, it's not only going to make things harder for the rest of this season, but also the next couple of seasons to come.

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