The San Diego Padres have surprised many this season as they’ve gotten off to a red-hot start, going 31-23 and sitting just two games back of the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.
The Padres’ success has come after a quiet offseason in which they saw many of last year’s key contributors walk away. Their biggest addition was starting pitcher Nick Pivetta on a four-year, $55 million deal in February.
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Nevertheless, the Padres have picked up where they left off last year, and are making a serious case to be one of the league’s top teams.
However, there’s one clear hole that needs to be patched up.
The Padres lost last year’s left fielder in All-Star Jurickson Profar, who signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Atlanta Braves before being suspended for violating the league’s banned substance policy.
The Padres failed to replace his production this offseason, bringing in a platoon of veterans Jason Heyward and Connor Joe, the latter of whom has already been shipped off to the Reds. Heyward, still on the roster, has been abysmal, hitting .176 and currently making his second stint on the injured list.
The Padres are already scouring the trade market for a left fielder, and Jason Fray of Sports Illustrated came up with a perfect option, linking them to Baltimore Orioles slugger Tyler O’Neill.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 21: Newly named Manager of the San Diego Padres Mike Shildt and Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller speak at the introductory press conference at Petco Park on November 21, 2023 in San Diego, California.
Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images
“Tyler O’Neill of the Baltimore Orioles is a guy that could end up being a major difference-maker,” Fray wrote. “The talent has never been a question with him. O’Neill is a very good athlete with an elite arm and some light-tower power to boot.”
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O’Neill is currently working his way back from a shoulder injury. The right-handed hitter got off to a hot start before cooling down tremendously. On the year, he’s hitting .188 with two home runs and an OPS of .605.
However, in 113 games last season with the Boston Red Sox, O’Neill had his second career 30-plus home run campaign, finishing with an OPS of .847. He’s also a two-time Gold Glove award winner, and would fix by far the biggest flaw in San Diego’s roster.
As for his price tag, he signed a three-year, $49.5 million deal this offseason, but has an opt-out after this season.
“San Diego could bet on O’Neill returning to form, and he would be a great fit with the Padres considering the energy with which he plays,” Fray wrote.
“If he comes over via trade and puts up huge numbers, he’ll likely reenter the market with San Diego not having to be on the hook for substantial money. If he doesn’t, he’d theoretically opt-in with the Padres and have only two years left on his deal where San Diego would get him on a short commitment within his playing prime.”
With the Orioles sitting at 19-36, there’s a good chance they’re forced to sell at the deadline.
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