San Diego Padres: 3 options who could be a big boost at first base

Just when you thought the San Diego Padres were ready to sell off a high-priced ticket item or two before said items leave in November without getting anything for their departure, the Friars go off and sweep the best team in the American League and are now seemingly players in the National League Wild Card race.

Although GM A.J. Preller hasn't exactly come out and said "we are not trading our best players that everyone wants, but are instead adding to the team for the postseason," that's definitely the vibe given this past weekend's impressive showing against the Texas Rangers. The only ones associated with the Padres who haven't made the trip to Colorado seem to be the Petco Park grounds crew. It appears that guys like Josh Hader, Blake Snell and Juan Soto aren't going anywhere, so let's run with that. The Padres are not sellers, but buyers heading into the August 1, 6 p.m. (Eastern) trade deadline. So what should San Diego be shopping for?

I've seen in the infamous "online" that San Diego, who sits eight games out in the NL West and five games out of the Wild Card, may be looking for DH and outfield help for an offense that's still only batting .238. Sure. Ok, but I feel they have a much more pressing need for offense at first base and should go find it even if it may create an awkward situation in the clubhouse. But, hey, they're going for it, right? So potential awkwardness be damned.

San Diego's current first baseman Jake Cronenworth is hitting an un-whopping .216 with eight home runs and 38 RBI. That's not what the Padres expected out of the two-time All-Star who they gave a seven-year, $80 million extension to on April 1. The 29-year-old had his best month of the season in the worst offensive year of his career, but his .244 average in July is very relative and still a problem. Whether Cronenworth's paltry numbers this season are a mere slump in his career or part of a cruel season-long April Fool's joke, the fact remains that San Diego needs more production out of the first base position if they're going to "go for it" the final two months of the regular season.

Sure, bringing in another first baseman to take at bats away from your freshly extended first baseman could be awkward, but can you really worry about that? After all, you're going for it! So where at this late hour do the Padres find a first baseman with some kind of bat?

3 potential options for the San Diego Padres to improve at first base

Josh Naylor, Cleveland Guardians

Of the players I'm listing here, Naylor is the one true legit big bat who will likely also bring the heaviest price of a top prospect and possibly a player on the current San Diego big league roster.

The one-time Padre is batting .308 with 15 homers and 79 RBI and is batting .344 this month after hitting .370 in June. Naylor is Cleveland's primary first baseman, but does frequently serve as their designated hitter as he's had 89 at bats in that role carrying a .270 average. Cleveland just traded their last true quality starter Aaron Civale to Tampa Bay, so although just a half-game behind Minnesota for the AL Central lead, the Guardians front office may be thinking what everyone else already believes to be true, "whether its Cleveland or the Twins, not much is going to happen for the AL Central this postseason."

Not only would Naylor be a huge upgrade at first base and designated hitter, but he'd automatically be one of the best offensive weapons on the Padres roster. Naylor is on his second one-year, arbitration-avoiding contract with Cleveland so this could turn out to be just a rental, but hey, they're going for it. Right?!

A quick note before going shopping for the Josh Naylor statue materials: as great as the past two months have been for Naylor at the plate, over his career he's a career .247 hitter in August and .238 in September/October.

Andrew Vaughn, Chicago White Sox

Though far less scintillating than Naylor, Andrew Vaughn would be a much cheaper option still capable of filling the need. The 25-year-old is batting .247 while on course for career highs in home runs (13) and RBI (58) in his third season in the majors, all on the south side of Chicago. Vaughn has hit .333 over the past week and is riding a six-game hitting streak heading into August.

The White Sox have been active over the past handful of days having already traded Lucas Giolito, Joe Kelly, Reynaldo Lopez and Lance Lynn with rumors swirling around a potential Dylan Cease move. Vaughn's been in a bit of a crowded house at first base in Chicago as manager Pedro Grifol has been platooning Vaughn with Yasmani Grandal and Gavin Sheets. Vaughn is on a $760,000 one year contract and becomes eligible for arbitration next March. Vaughn is a guy who could probably fetch a third-tier prospect in return. Again, he's not batting .308 like Naylor but he's also not batting .216.