The San Diego Padres pulled off numerous trades this offseason and now general manager AJ Preller could be looking for another trade, as reports have him checking in on the shortstop market early in the season and while it's only a week into the year, names like Starlin Castro, Chris Taylor, Elvis Andrus, Troy Tulowitzki, Brad Miller and Jose Ramirez could be potential targets.
According to USA Today reporter Bob Nightengale, Preller has started to look into the shortstop trade market, as he would like to upgrade from Clint Barmes and Alexi Amarista. The Padres pulled off a number of moves this offseason, including adding Matt Kemp, Will Myers, James Shields, Will Middlebrooks, Justin Upton and Craig Kimbrel and now Preller could be looking for more.
Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal picked up on the rumors and he wrote that people should not rule Preller out of making another deal just because he has already made a number of trades. According to Rosenthal, the Padres could be looking at this season as an "all-in" year and he mentions both Andrus and Castro as the main targets. Rosenthal adds Tulowitzki at the bottom of his column, but that is likely a deal that would cost too much for the Padres.
Rosenthal made a list of names that could be available, including Brad Miller or Chris Taylor with the Mariners, Jose Ramirez with the Indians and Ryan Goins with the Blue Jays. Miller is starting for the Mariners with Taylor coming back from a wrist injury, but that is a situation that execs have been following, as the Mariners are all-in for this year too. Ramirez is a younger option, while Goins is 27 and could be a potential target as well.
According to Nightengale, the Cubs and Castro could be a potential option for the Padres, as the Cubs have a player in waiting in Addison Russell. Nightengale wrote that the Cubs "love" Russell and that he is ready to come up to the majors, meaning they likely would listen to offers from the Padres. Last season the Cubs got Russell from the A's in the deal for Jeff Samardzija and now he could be the future shortstop. Castro is young, but he has been mentioned in trade rumors since last season and now he could be a target for the Padres.
The team also made a splash before the opening game of the season, adding Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton, Jr. in a deal with the Braves after previously acquiring J. Upton from the team. The Padres are not the favorites in the NL West this season, as the Dodgers bring back a strong team, but many around baseball expect them to be in the postseason race.
