Could the Padres Add a Big Bat After the Lockout

With the CBA Lockout currently going on, MLB teams are not allowed to sign or trade for players. While the lockout is preventing teams from making moves, interesting things have been lurking in the Padres front office. Before the lockout, the Padres picked up Luis Garcia, and Robert Suarez, both being great additions for the Padres bullpen. The Padres failed to officially sign Nick Martinez before the lockout occurred. The contract would have been 4 years worth 20 million dollars. The Padres will most likely finalize the signing after the CBA is signed. Since then, has there been any noise going on? The answer is yes.

A couple hours before the lockout, the Padres were making little growth on a contract for OF Nick Castellanos. The Padres main free agent target before the lockout was Castellanos, but could not make a deal in time. Both sides showed mutual interest in the situation. Castellanos would fill the roll of Tommy Pham in left field. Although Castellanos is a horrible defender, the new CBA could agree on a DH in the national league, which would put Castellanos at DH, and also could give him a pay cut, since the Padres would only be paying for his bat.

Along with Castellanos, the Padres were interested in another outfielder. The Padres were very aggressive with Seiya Suzuki, a superstar in the Japanese league. Suzuki said he would prefer to play in the west coast for warmer weather, and San Diego is a perfect spot for great weather. Since he also did not sign before the CBA, a deal could be agreed on after the CBA is signed.

Matt Olson is currently on the trade block, and AJ Preller is showing a huge interest. Preller and the Athletics were talking a couple of days before the lockout. Matt Olson is a first baseman, and the current first baseman for the Padres is being aggressively shopped around. Matt Olson would cost a lot, and I'm not sure if the Padres would be willing to unload a prospect named CJ Abrams or Robbert Hassell. Talks including Matt Olson have definitely have been hot, but the likely hood of the Padres landing Matt Olson, is not a great percentage.

Going back to the current Padres first baseman, Eric Hosmer, is currently being shopped around. Preller is looking for a 3-team trade to take on the whole contract. Top 50 prospect, Luis Campusano, will more than likely be moved with Hosmer, if Hosmer will be moved. Teams including the Marlins and Cubs are teams that have interest in taking on Eric Hosmer's contract for Luis Campsuano. During the 2021 trade deadline, the Cubs were asking the Padres for a trade that would send Eric Hosmer and Luis Campusano to the Cubs, for Anthony Rizzo and part of the contract of Hosmer. While it would take a lot to get rid of Eric Hosmer, AJ Preller will be very active in trading Hosmer to unload his huge contract.

This is a very good update on what the Padres were doing before the lockout, and could potentially finalize after the lockout. While some deals are more likely to happen than others, Preller is not close of done, and is expected to make good moves within the 2022 MLB Season.