The Padres' Perfect Fits For The Rest Of Their Hot Stove Season

Those first two are definitive holes. The others mentioned are up for debate. This article will provide three names that could be perfect fits to help fill those needs. It could end up being a free agency or trade route. We'll take a shot at both: two trade possibilities and one free agent signing.

The first alternative is the starting pitching route.

As mentioned above, they could sign a free agent. Players such as Chris Bassitt or Lucas Giolito, both of whom have been linked to the team in recent write-ups, could be alternatives. With the team possibly having budget constraints, however, that makes it obviously less likely.

Here are three criteria for why a player is on the list.

1. His age.
2. How much will he cost in payroll obligations?
3. The years of team control he'll provide.

Initially, Edward Cabrera was listed as the original choice for the best fit. He would have made the most sense and would have fit all of our chosen criteria. His age, three years of team control, and estimated payroll hit of $3.5 million would have been perfect. With him being traded to the Cubs, the next candidate was bumped to the top of the list.

Mitch Keller was also considered. He offers multiple years of team control and would be a reliable 4th or 5th starter that would eat innings; however, he wouldn't be much of an upgrade over current in-house options like Randy Vasquez or JP Sears. He also comes at a price tag that would be too high for what the team would be willing to pay for a back-end starter.

With that being said, the next option is Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers. His age and salary certainly fit into this possibility. His lack of team control and becoming a free agent after this season does not. The cost in a trade would be steep enough that it's just not worth giving up the capital for a one-year rental. Even if it is a pitcher of his caliber, though, it would be dreamy to see him fronting the rotation. Putting him at the top would be a real game-changer. It's just not feasible at that cost, though.

Our next option may be just as good as Peralta. He also fits all three listed criteria. That player is MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals. It would be a fun story for him to come full circle back to the team that originally drafted him with the third overall pick in the 2017 draft, too. Not to mention it would be nice to have a left-hander in the rotation to split things up a bit. He might not be quite as good as Peralta, but he does have two years of team control and is projected to make less money as well. Peralta is estimated to make $8 million, compared to $6.5 million for Gore. That's why we'll roll with him.

Padres receive:

• MacKenzie Gore

Nationals receive:

• Kruz Schoolcraft, SP
• Kash Mayfield, SP
• Jorge Quintana, SS

Next up, first base choices.

On the free agent front, the pickings are slim to say the least. With the Padres missing out on Kazuma Okamoto to the Blue Jays, there isn't really an upgrade that meets their need of a power bat.

The best player available is probably former Padre Luis Arraez. Other options include Rhys Hoskins, Paul Goldschmidt, and Carlos Santana, none of which stand out as difference-makers. Arraez coming back is still a possibility, but if the Padres insist on finding more power, they'll have to look to the trade market.

These four players present better options. Triston Casas of the Boston Red Sox, Mark Vientos of the New York Mets, Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Christian Walker of the Houston Astros make much better fits for the team's needs. Players like Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo of the Baltimore Orioles also theoretically fit into this trade category. Still, theyy don't have the same appeal as the players we've mentioned above..

Though Casas and Vientos offer intrigue due to their low-cost salaries and years of team control, not to mention their power potential, they just don't have the same experience or upside in comparison to Diaz and Walker. Those two have multiple years of proven results.

There's a scenario in which they could choose any of the four, depending on how much money they're willing to take on or how much trade capital they're willing to part with, which could also be said of Mountcastle and Mayo. However, when you consider the contention window the team is currently in, it makes the most sense to go after who fits their needs the most.

We could seriously make a case that Diaz might be the best overall hitter and that his contract is more reasonable, but he'd probably cost the most in prospect capital. Not to mention, he is a poorly rated fielder and is only controlled through this season, albeit via a reasonably priced option for next year.

Who's the player that provides the most upside and fits those needs the most, you'd ask?

That would be Walker. While his salary might be the highest of the players mentioned ($20 million AAV), he is under contract for the next two years. His track record also speaks for itself. Even if his batting average (.238) and on-base percentage (.298) weren't ideal last season, he was still able to swat over twenty-five long balls (27) and knock in over eighty-five (88) runs. That's the middle of the order production they're looking for. He provides the most consistent thump of the four mentioned, too. He's also the best defender of the group, having won three Gold Gloves.

If the Friars were able to get the Astros to throw in some money to offset Walker's salary, it makes him the frontrunner. They also have less leverage than the Rays in trade negotiations because of the logjam the Astros possess at the position.

Padres receive:

• Christian Walker, 1B
• $10 million in cash considerations

Astros receive:

• Miguel Mendez, SP
• Jagger Haynes, SP
• Tirso Ornelas, OF

Now that the two positions of need are taken care of, the Padres still need a catcher and/or a bench piece.

It's no secret that the team would like an experienced catcher to serve as the backup to starter Freddy Fermin, replacing Luis Campusano. His defensive deficiencies are well chronicled. His bat, on the other hand, could be of some use.

Although Campusano didn't precisely set the world on fire with the chances he received last year (albeit in limited opportunities) at the major league level, he did crush Triple-A pitching. Even if it was in an extremely hitter-friendly environment in the Pacific Coast League, it also showed he doesn't have anything left to prove in the minors. That hit tool could fit a platoon role at DH. Campusano is also out of minor league options.

Which segways us right into the final transaction.

The Padres sign free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto.

Signing Realmuto would give the Padres one of the better catching tandems in the game. It also presents a late-inning strategy of keeping three catchers on the roster. He might not be the player he was a few years ago, but with Fermin and Realmuto in the fold, they could split the catching duties fairly evenly.

Other options were considered for this final spot, such as keeping Campusano as the backup catcher and going with a more traditional DH option, such as Marcell Ozuna, who doesn't offer much positional versatility and would be strictly a DH. A part-time one, at that. Not to mention, he's likely out of the team's price range. It still doesn't mean they couldn't still sign him and use him in that situation. Especially if the Padres don't see Campusano making the Opening Day roster. 

So what do you think, Friar Faithful? Are these reasonable options to finish off the Hot Stove season? Or would you go in another direction with some of the other names mentioned?

Please let us know what your best options are for upgrading the team in the comments below.