4 trade targets the Padres should consider pursuing this summer

Despite building what many would call a "super team," the San Diego Padres appear to have multiple holes that need shoring up via trade this summer.

Most contending teams use the trade deadline to bulk up for a pennant race, and the Padres will certainly be no different if recent history is any indicator. Now, we're not saying to expect blockbuster trades like the Juan Soto and Josh Hader deals from last summer, but don't expect GM A.J. Preller to rest on his laurels, either.

Let's examine four trade targets that the Padres could pursue this summer as upgrades.

4 trade targets for the San Diego Padres to pursue this summer

1. Catcher: Yasmani Grandal

Grandal has played for San Diego in the past (2012-2014), and should be available at the trade deadline assuming the Chicago White Sox continue their free fall. The veteran catcher has a .798 OPS at the plate in 119 at-bats this season.

The Padres would be smart to upgrade at catcher since they're currently receiving below-average production from that position in 2023 (just -0.3 bWAR). Austin Nola just isn't getting things done, and journeyman Brett Sullivan is a nice story, but not a solution.

Grandal, unlike fellow catcher trade target Salvador Perez, would be a rental for the stretch run, meaning his acquistion cost would be lower. And when you consider the state of the Padres' farm system as it stands right now, that could really help matters.

2. Reliever: Aroldis Chapman

Chapman, the hard-throwing lefty known for his abilty to notch triple-digits on his fastball, has found new life as a Kansas City Royal in 2023 after struggling in 2022 with the New York Yankees. And his closer pedigree makes him a great fit for the Padres' bullpen.

San Diego's collective relief corps has a negative bWAR so far this season (-0.7) and will continue to be without set-up man Robert Suarez for an indefinite amount of time. And outside of Josh Hader, the Padres have had trouble closing games out. Pairing the dynamic Chapman with Hader, however, could make things interesting late.

The 35-year-old Chapman and his 3.45 ERA would come as a rental at this year's trade deadline, which as we noted with Grandal, would be a boon for the Padres given the state of their depleted farm system.

Designated Hitter: Brent Rooker

Though the Oakland Athletics are terrible, one of their biggest bright spots in 2023 has been the sudden emergence of designated hitter Brent Rooker.

Rooker, 28, is having a career season by the Bay with 11 home runs, a 1.042 OPS and a 194 OPS+. He's easily on track to be Oakland's lone All-Star in Seattle and would add some thunder to a Padres lineup that surprisingly lacks in that department.

Given Rooker's elite early production, the A's could get ahead of the journeyman's resurgence by selling high on his years of club control. San Diego may not have the ammunition to conjure up a competitive package for Rooker's services, but he would undoubtedly be a better option for Bob Melvin at DH than Nelson Cruz, Matt Carpenter or Rougned Odor.