MLB Trade Rumors: San Diego Padres Ready To Trade Veterans?

MLB trade rumors again involve the San Diego Padres. Early struggles in the 2016 MLB season for the Padres have created more rumors about the team parting with its veterans. A report from Buster Olney at ESPN.com addressed the value that some of those veterans possess, but he also noted that the Padres may have “missed a window” to part with more of them during the MLB offseason. Padres players who are again popping up in MLB trade rumors are James Shields, Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner, Matt Kemp, and Derek Norris.

The Padres started out the 2016 MLB season by getting shut out in three consecutive games by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team was outscored 25-0 in the opening series, suggesting that the Padres could have problems with offense and pitching. What made it all much worse was that the Padres got swept in front of the home crowd. The team has rebounded a bit this weekend, beating the Colorado Rockies 13-6 on April 8 and then 16-3 on April 9. That hasn’t stopped the buzz about potential trades.

Matt Kemp is now 9-for-21 at the plate, posting a 0.429 batting average, three home runs, and 10 RBIs through his first five games. He found his swing in Colorado and may have increased his value quite a bit on the trade market. The San Diego Padres tried to deal him in each of the last two MLB offseasons, but couldn’t come to terms on how much of his salary the other team would pay. If he continues to hit this well at the plate, it might prove that his value wasn’t lost when Kemp left the Dodgers.

Matt Kemp will make $21.5 million during the 2016 MLB season as well as in each of the next four seasons. He isn’t the only highly paid player on the roster, either, as James Shields will make $21 million, Melvin Upton is at about $16.1 million, Tyson Ross is at about $9.6 million, and Andrew Cashner will earn about $7.2 million this year. Shields is on the books for $21 million in each of the next two MLB seasons, as well. It was an expensive deal when the Padres offered it, but the team hasn’t done well since he joined them.

The San Diego Padres finished the 2015 MLB season with a 74-88 record, putting the team at fourth place in the National League West. It led to many new MLB trade rumors for the franchise, with the Padres trading relief pitchers Joaquin Benoit and Nick Vincent to the Seattle Mariners. Justin Upton signed with the Detroit Tigers, Jedd Gyorko is with the St. Louis Cardinals, and still the team is looking to shed more salary. The inherent problem, though, is that the health of Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner continue to harm their trade values.

Ross just got placed on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation, and Cashner has a long history of missing games due to minor injuries. It raises the risk level for any team possibly interested in adding a starting pitcher. The Padres have made no secret of the fact that they would like to part with Ross, Cashner, and James Shields. The problem is finding a team that will pay their full salaries. Shields had a 3.91 ERA and 1.334 WHIP in 2015, which might not be good enough for the $21 million in salary he makes this year.

San Diego Padres fans that have stuck with the team over the years have to be pretty excited about the two big wins over the Colorado Rockies this weekend. What it might do, though, is gloss over the fact that the active roster doesn’t appear good enough to compete in the National League West. So what happens next for the Padres? All current MLB trade rumors indicate the team is willing to deal, but coming up with a trading partner could be complicated. The most likely player to be traded in the short-term is Derek Norris, followed by one of the starting pitchers if the Padres pay part of his contract.

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