4 players the San Diego Padres can get at the trade deadline who will help them in 2024

3) Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas can help the Padres win in 2024

One player who's come out of nowhere this season is Lane Thomas of the Nationals. Not much has gone right for Washington, but Thomas has developed into a player that will at least net them a decent asset or two at the deadline.

Thomas is slashing .290/.337/.488 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI. His 122 WRC+ rivals Brent Rooker's mark, and his 2.1 fWAR would rank sixth on this Padres team.

The fit here isn't perfect as Thomas is more of a corner outfielder, but he has played 128 games across five seasons in center field including four this season.

Offense has been the issue for this Padres team this season, particularly at the bottom of the order. Adding Thomas who's a massive upgrade over Trent Grisham, and if the Padres wanted to stick him or Juan Soto at DH that'd work too.

Thomas is making $2.2 million this season and has two more years of arbitration to go before hitting free agency following the 2025 season. The Padres would be getting him in his prime, and should be calling up the rebuilding Nationals to see if anything can happen.