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Whereas the San Diego Padres proceed to be in talks for Juan Soto, they’re additionally taking a look at potential alternate options forward of the Aug. 2 commerce deadline.
Per ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Padres are having discussions with the Chicago Cubs about All-Star catcher Willson Contreras.
Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune famous the Padres presently have “a variety of issues occurring” main as much as the commerce deadline.
Soto is the largest domino that might fall earlier than Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital famous the Washington Nationals plan to make another try at signing their 23-year-old famous person to an extension, and if no deal is reached, “he shall be traded earlier than the deadline.”
The Athletic’s Jim Bowden reported Friday that there are “sturdy indications” San Diego and the St. Louis Cardinals are the main candidates to accumulate Soto.
Contreras looks like he shall be simpler to get in a deal at this level. The 30-year-old primarily said goodbye to the Chicago followers in his ultimate at-bat throughout Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the Pittsburgh Pirates. (The Cubs started a seven-game street journey Thursday that may end two days after the commerce deadline.)
The Cubs seem to have put a excessive value on Contreras in a commerce regardless of seemingly having little leverage at this level. Jon Heyman of the New York Submit famous that the New York Mets are additionally in on the veteran catcher, however the value is “nonetheless greater than they’d like.”
Contreras, who can grow to be a free agent on the finish of this season, may very well be probably the most impactful hitters dealt previous to the deadline if he will get moved. The Venezuela native has a .252/.369/.460 slash line with 14 homers in 309 at-bats.
The Padres (56-45) are presently within the second wild-card spot within the Nationwide League. They lead the Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies by 2.5 video games for the ultimate playoff berth.
