If the Cleveland Indians decide to move starting pitcher Trevor Bauer at the trade deadline later this month, the San Diego Padres will be a team to watch.
Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com reports that the Padres have “emerged as the most serious suitor” should the Indians deal Bauer. However, Cleveland has won five games in a row and currently holds one of the American League’s two wild card spots. That could make trading Bauer less likely, but they are apparently still open to it.
According to Morosi, the Indians will insist upon getting a Major League talent in return for Bauer, as they are not going to give up on what has become a very solid season. The Padres could offer Franmil Reyes, Hunter Renfroe or Luis Urías — all MLB position players — in a potential deal for Bauer.
The Padres are looking for a veteran like Bauer to anchor their rotation, and the 28-year-old is 9-7 with a 3.67 ERA on the season. He’s also extremely reliable, having made 28 or more starts in each of the past four seasons. Bauer is on pace to surpass that mark this year, as he has already made 22.
Bauer has one more year of arbitration left, and he will likely make somewhere in the range of $20 million next season before becoming a free agent. The Indians appear to have decided they can’t afford to keep him, which is why a trade is being considered. There are multiple teams interested in acquiring Bauer, but it sounds like the Padres are among the favorites.
