4 trade targets the Padres should consider pursuing this summer

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.