San Diego Padres

With Yu Darvish going on the injured list with lower back tightness, the San Diego Padres are reportedly "in the mix" for veteran free-agent starter Jake Arrieta, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune and Jon Heyman of the MLB Network.

Acee added that the Padres are in need of "at least one fill-in starter" with Chris Paddack also on the IL because of an oblique injury.

Arrieta, 35, was released by the Chicago Cubs last week. He's had a tough season, going 5-11 with a 6.88 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 86.1 innings. His second stint in Chicago ended in brutal fashion, as he gave up 11 hits and eight runs in just four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 11 in a 10-0 loss.

It was his fifth straight start failing to reach the fifth inning. 

"He was struggling," president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told reporters. "Not getting deep into starts. We've been patient and tried to get through it and hopefully he [would] come out the other side and pitch better. We weren't there."

"Early on in the season, his stuff was a little sharper," he added. "Over time, things tapered back a bit, whether that was some injury issues or age or whatever. He did everything he could do to succeed."

Arrieta spent his first three-plus seasons in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles before a successful run with the Cubs (2013-17) that included a World Series title in 2016 and a Cy Young award in 2015. 

But he wasn't great after leaving Chicago, going 22-23 in three seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies while posting a 4.36 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. He returned to Chicago on a one-year, $6 million deal but couldn't regain the magic from his last run with the Cubs. 

It's unclear how much Arrieta has left in the tank at this point, if anything at all, or if he would really be the best option for a Padres team (66-53) fighting for a playoff berth. San Diego currently holds the second wild-card berth in the National League but is just two games in front of the Cincinnati Reds. 

It's Wild Card or bust for the Padres, who trail the San Francisco Giants by 10 games in the NL West. So adding another starting pitcher makes sense, but Arrieta's recent form suggests there may be better options, even in the short term. 

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish suffered lower back tightness during his Thursday night start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team announced.

Darvish was lifted in the third after going 2.2 innings with six hits, five earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts.

The Padres previously placed the right-hander on the 10-day injured list on July 11 with left hip inflammation, a move that was retroactive to July 9. Prior to the IL designation, manager Jayce Tingler said Darvish had been dealing with minor hip and back trouble that put his status for the All-Star Game in jeopardy.

The Japanese star has been excellent in his first year with San Diego. Through 22 starts, he's 7-6 with a 3.43 ERA and 3.67 FIP while averaging 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings, according to Baseball Reference.

The race is tight at the top of the National League West. The San Francisco Giants continue to exceed expectations, while the Los Angeles Dodgers have bounced back after slipping to 17-16 in early May. Still, the Padres are on track to claim one of the two wild-card berths in the NL.

As much as the staff will miss Darvish in the short term, this illustrates why the front office was so aggressive in adding depth during the offseason.

San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. is going back on the injured list. 

The team announced it has placed the All-Star shortstop on the 10-day IL with left shoulder inflammation. Tatis will be reevaluated after 10 days, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic: 

Padres manager Jayce Tingler noted surgery is not out of the question for Tatis if his shoulder doesn't improve in 10 days, per Lin.

Today's announcement came after Tatis left the Padres' game Friday night against the Colorado Rockies after appearing to reinjure his shoulder sliding into third base.

While Tatis has turned in an MVP-caliber season when healthy, he's had to miss time because of injuries. He sat out 10 games in April because of a partially dislocated left shoulder and partially torn labrum he suffered taking a swing in a game against the San Francisco Giants. 

Per AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, the Padres are "hopeful" Tatis can return as quickly from this shoulder issue as he did in April. 

He also sat out 10 days in May because of Major League Baseball's COVID-19 protocols. 

Given the highly competitive nature of the National League West, the Padres can't afford to be without Tatis for an extended period of time. The 22-year-old leads the NL with 31 homers, 23 stolen bases and a .651 slugging percentage. 

The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers made themselves better at the trade deadline. The Giants acquired Kris Bryant to upgrade their lineup. The Dodgers added Max Scherzer and Trea Turner in a trade with the Washington Nationals. 

Playing in the same division as those heavyweights, the Padres need their best player in the lineup if they want to stick with them down the stretch. 

Until Tatis is able to return, Tingler will use Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop.

San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. suffered a partially dislocated left shoulder on Friday night against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park.

Tatis went down near third base in the bottom of the first inning after trying to advance from second on an error. He was 1-for-1 before exiting and was replaced by Ha-Seong Kim.

The MVP candidate has dealt with a shoulder issue for much of the 2021 season. He went on the injured list after being hurt in spring training and then reinjured the shoulder in June.

"I don't know how to compare them. They've all been a little bit different,'' Padres manager Jayce Tingler told reporters. "We're of the understanding that this was a possibility, the shoulder coming out and then back in. The good thing is it slid back in.

"It's so tough to predict, especially without a lot of information at this point. I will say, for whatever reason, he's had a phenomenal ability of getting back in there, honestly sooner than we've expected. But again, it's tough to say without having a lot of information.''

It's likely Tatis will be dealing with some level of shoulder discomfort throughout the season. He's managed to continue brilliant play despite being at less than 100 percent, slashing .292/.373/.651 with 31 home runs, 70 runs batted in and 23 steals.

Ha-Seong Kim will likely get work at shortstop with Tatis out of the lineup. 

The San Diego Padres' World Series odds moved from 8-1 to 7-1 after trade rumors connecting the team and Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer emerged on Thursday.

B/R Betting relayed odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, who noted San Diego now has the third-best odds to win the Fall Classic after jumping the Chicago White Sox on the ledger.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network and Fox Sports notably reported on Thursday afternoon that talks between the Nats and Padres for Scherzer have "intensified."

Scherzer is 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 111 innings. He threw six innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 road win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.

The 37-year-old is a three-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star. The 14-year MLB veteran, who has pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers and Nationals, has led Major League Baseball in strikeouts three times.

The 2019 World Series champion would be a welcome addition to a Padres team currently sporting a 59-45 record, good enough for third in the National League West and second in the wild-card standings.

San Diego clearly has World Series aspirations, and adding Scherzer would make the Padres a much more potent postseason threat.

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The San Diego Padres are interested in acquiring Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo, but they want the American League West team to take on first baseman Eric Hosmer in a potential deal, per Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (h/t Outline).

Grant also mentioned that the Padres are willing to include outfielder Robert Hassell, who San Diego took No. 8 overall in the 2020 MLB draft.

Gallo, 27, is hitting .223 (.869 OPS) with 25 home runs and 55 RBI this season. The prodigious power hitter is a two-time All-Star who smacked 81 home runs over his first two full seasons (2017-2018).

Gallo is under team control through the 2022 season and eligible for free agency in 2023.

The 31-year-old Hosmer is hitting .269 (.716 OPS) with eight home runs and 48 RBI.

Per Grant, Hosmer has over $65 million in obligations left on an eight-year, $144 million deal signed prior to the 2018 MLB season.

The Padres are currently third in the National League West at 59-44, but that mark is good enough to occupy the NL's second Wild Card spot at the moment.

San Diego would obviously like to win the division so it doesn't leave its playoff fate to a singular Wild Card Game, and the team could use some reinforcements.

Adding a power bat like Gallo can only help as the Padres look to surpass the first-place San Francisco Giants and second-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the standings. San Diego is currently 5.5 games behind San Francisco.

The Hosmer deal could be a potential obstacle, however, with the team clearly looking to unload that contract.

As Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lim of The Athletic wrote, the Padres are on "pace to finish the 2021 season above Major League Baseball’s competitive balance tax threshold of $210 million."

Teams are taxed for every dollar above the limit, and shedding at least some of Hosmer's deal could help the team fall back below that level.

Hosmer is a four-time Gold Glove winner who served as one of the catalysts for the Kansas City Royals' 2015 World Series victory. He was also named to the 2016 American League All-Star team.

After reportedly acquiring Adam Frazier in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday, the San Diego Padres could now look to shed some payroll, with Eric Hosmer potentially on the move prior to the July 30 deadline.

According to Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin of The Athletic, Hosmer's name "has surfaced in recent trade discussions."

The Padres are reportedly set to top MLB's competitive balance tax threshold of $210 million for the first time. The latest calculations would put the squad at $2 million over the line, meaning it would have to pay a 20 percent tax on that overage.

Hosmer has a $21 million salary in 2021, which is the fourth season of his eight-year, $144 million contract, per Spotrac.          

The 31-year-old hasn't quite lived up to his contract with the Padres, but he has helped the team at the plate, with a .266 batting average and a .330 on-base percentage with eight home runs in 92 games this season.

Hosmer was even better in the shortened 2020 campaign, with a .287 average and the second-best OPS (.851) of his career. A contending team could add the proven left-handed hitter and four-time Gold Glove winner in the hopes he can return to this level in a new location.

The Padres, meanwhile, will need to make room in the lineup for Frazier.

Like Frazier, San Diego second baseman Jake Cronenworth earned an All-Star selection this season, but he has made 15 appearances at first base this year and could slide over with Hosmer gone.

It would help further solidify a lineup that features Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado and entered Monday ranked seventh in the majors in runs scored. With the Padres still chasing the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, they will likely keep seeking ways to improve.

On the other hand, trading Hosmer could create chemistry problems for the World Series contenders, with Rosenthal and Lin noting the veteran is "universally respected inside the Padres’ clubhouse."

The San Diego Padres already bolstered their lineup with a trade and will apparently look to do the same with their starting pitching.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported the National League West club is "working to acquire a starting pitcher" ahead of Friday's trade deadline.

San Diego already traded shortstop Tucupita Marcano, outfielder Jake Suwinski and pitcher Michell Miliano to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Adam Frazier, per ESPN's Kiley McDaniel. What's more, ESPN's Buster Olney reported the Padres discussed trading for Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story and moving him to the outfield before landing Frazier.

In Frazier, the Padres have a 2021 All-Star who leads the league with 125 hits all while slashing .327/.392/.453.

The team is clearly looking to push some chips forward in the tight race for the playoffs. It is in third place in the National League West and 5.5 games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants.

It is also 5.5 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the final NL wild-card spot and has a lineup capable of challenging for the franchise's first World Series title with Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Frazier.

The Padres turned heads in the starting pitching department before the season started by trading for Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, but the latter has been inconsistent with a 4.93 ERA. Dinelson Lamet is also on the injured list, underscoring the need for more depth.

San Diego is a solid but unspectacular 10th in the league in starting pitching ERA at 3.95, per FanGraphs.

Trading for another impact arm to pair with Darvish and Snell could give the team enough pitchers to take over playoff series without relying on the powerful lineup to lead the way every game.

The San Diego Padres were apparently looking within the National League West for a potential deal before they traded for Adam Frazier.

ESPN's Buster Olney reported the Padres "talked internally about trading for Trevor Story and putting him in center field" prior to acquiring Frazier from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin reported Pittsburgh landed outfielder Jack Suwinski and shortstop Tucupita Marcano in the deal, while ESPN's Kiley McDaniel noted pitcher Michell Miliano is headed to the Pirates as well.

Asking Story, who plays shortstop for the Colorado Rockies, to play center field in the spacious Petco Park would have been a risky move for the Padres, but they also would surely be far more interested in his bat than anything else in such a deal.

After all, the two-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger is one of the best hitting shortstops in the league when he's at his best.

He launched 37 home runs in 2018 and 35 home runs in 2019, and entered the 2021 campaign with three straight seasons of batting .289 or higher. However, those numbers have taken somewhat of a dip this year, as he is slashing .242/.314/.427 with 12 home runs and 45 RBI.

Instead of Story, the Padres traded for Frazier.

The former Pirate was a first-time All-Star this season and leads the league with 125 hits. He is slashing .327/.392/.453 and was a rare bright spot for a struggling Pittsburgh club.

Frazier will now have an opportunity to compete for a playoff berth with the Padres and help anchor a strong lineup that already features Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. That stands in stark contrast to the 38-61 Pirates, who are in last place in the National League Central.

One of the top available hitters is off the trade market after the Pittsburgh Pirates sent Adam Frazier to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

According to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin, outfielder Jack Suwinski and shortstop Tucupita Marcano will be headed to Pittsburgh. Kiley McDaniel of ESPN added right-handed pitcher Michell Miliano will also join the Pirates in the deal.

Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reported the Padres will also receive $1.4 million in cash in the trade.

Rosenthal noted the Seattle Mariners also made an offer for Frazier, one that did not require Pittsburgh to include any money in the deal:

The Pirates are selling very high on Frazier at this point. He was named to the National League All-Star team for the first time in his six-year career. The 29-year-old is only making $4.3 million this season and has one more year of arbitration before he can become a free agent. 

With the exception of a difficult 2020 season, Frazier has been an incredibly consistent hitter throughout his career. The Mississippi State alum owns a .283/.346/.420 slash line in 608 games. 

The 2021 campaign has certainly been the highest point of Frazier's tenure in the big leagues. He's on pace to set career highs in batting average (.327) and on-base percentage (.392). He currently leads MLB with 125 hits and has 27 doubles. 

In this era of high strikeout numbers for players, a big part of Frazier's success is his ability to make contact. He's only struck out in 10.6 percent of his at-bats, fourth lowest among all qualified hitters.

Frazier is also a solid defender at the keystone with one defensive runs saved, per FanGraphs. 

Given the state of the Pirates roster and where they are at in their rebuild, Frazier likely wasn't going to be around beyond next season anyway. Moving him at this point, where the Padres have him for the rest of this season and next year, is a smart move for Pittsburgh's front office.

Meanwhile, San Diego is putting all of its chips on the table as they pursue a run to the World Series this season. 

The Padres have the fourth-best record in the National League (58-44). They also have Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado anchoring a lineup that just got stronger.

Frazier's ability to make contact and get on base at a high rate will be a huge boost for an already-deep Padres lineup.