Padres Address Major Need In Potential Trade With Rangers
It shouldn’t be a surprise that the NL is tough and competitive this season. It also shouldn’t be a surprise to see the NL West Division potentially close with multiple competitors. The San Diego Padres have been on the heels of the Los Angeles Dodgers for several seasons, but they tend to get in their way.
This season, the Padres have seen problems on both sides of the field coming from the left fielder position. San Diego designated Jason Heyward for assignment in late June and then later released him. The 35-year-old, five-time Gold Glove Award winner, would be a temporary fix for the Padres, but ultimately prove to be a mistake. The Padres now have a chance to fix their mistake by the Trade Deadline, but it comes with a gamble.
If San Diego want to maximize their window to compete for a World Series title, they have to make more daring moves. This includes making big potential trades. One trade suggested by Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly is for San Diego to go for Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia. There are other candidates the Padres could consider, but Garcia makes sense.
Is Adolis Garcia the Complete Package at the Trade Deadline?
Garcia is having an efficient year at the plate, once again, accounting for 76 hits, 32 runs, 11 home runs, 53 RBIs, nine stolen bases, 88 strikeouts, a batting average of .231, and an on-base percentage of .276. He is an efficient hitter when he gets his opportunities, and he can either score or consistently get his teammates home. His biggest drawback is his impatience, which is why he has a high strikeout number and only 20 walks.
Garcia is an incredibly efficient defensive player, especially this season for the Rangers. In 87 games played, Garcia has accounted for 187 putouts, four assists, only one error, and one double-play for a fielding percentage of .995%. He has played a combination of right fielder, centerfielder, designated hitter, and left fielder since 2018. Although he hasn’t played left field since 2021, he is an efficient defender who is capable of switching positions without losing a step.
How Adolis Garcia Could Solve the San Diego Padres’ Problems
There are three main reasons for Garcia coming to the San Diego Padres. The first is to ensure Galvin Sheets will be placed at the designated hitter to maintain his focus as a batter. Star Fernando Tatis Jr. will remain at the right fielder position. The other two reasons for Garcia’s potential addition are having reliable defensive play and being a more efficient batter than Heywood had been for the Padres earlier in the season.
He is in the final year of a two-year; $14 million deal, but is up for arbitration for a potential new deal. Garcia would be an instant upgrade for the Padres as they have to make up some small ground with the Dodgers, who lost their seventh consecutive game on Friday, and the San Francisco Giants. There are potentially other players the Padres could trade for in a reliable outfielder, but Garcia would have less risk and wouldn’t cost much to trade for.
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