One trade, one signing the Padres should make

In an offseason that has seen them trade outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Yankees, the San Diego Padres are looking for ways to upgrade their club that finished with a disappointing 82-80 record in 2023.  After agreeing to a deal with relief pitcher Yuki Matsui, there are still a few holes in the roster that will need to be filled.

Here's one trade and one signing the Padres should make this offseason.

Trade: Deal Jake Cronenworth to the Angels

While there have been rumors that the Padres will not be trading utilityman Jake Cronenworth due to his contract and down season, it would make sense to try and find a suitor for him before the start of the 2024 season after already unloading outfielders Trent Grisham and Soto.

Signed to a seven-year, $80M contract extension with the Padres in April, Cronenworth didn't live up to expectations in 2023, posting a .229/.312/.378 slash line with 41 extra-base hits and 48 RBI in 127 games played.

Trading him will be hard without eating a significant chunk of his new contract, but one suitor that stands out is the Los Angeles Angels.

The deal would see Cronenworth traded to the Angels in exchange for starting pitcher Tyler Anderson and outfielder Jo Adell. While the return isn't major, both players offer things that the Padres need. 

Anderson is coming off a disappointing 2023 season (6-6, 5.43 ERA) with the Angels after inking a three-year, $39M deal with them last offseason, but he is a veteran left-hander who has plenty of National League West experience after his time with both the Colorado Rockies and Los Angels Dodgers.

With only two outfielders on the current 40-man roster, Adell gives the Padres an intriguing option in the outfield. The 24-year-old finished 2023 with 24 home runs in only 74 games in Triple-A and is just a few seasons removed from being one of the top prospects in baseball.  

Signing: Sign RHP Frankie Montas

After making only one appearance in 2023, Montas could be a big bounce-back candidate in 2024.

Although his time with the Yankees was a disaster, Montas still should be on every team's radar that needs pitching.

With a career record of 37-35 with a 3.90 ERA, 1.294 WHIP and 612 strikeouts in 593.2 innings pitched, the 30-year-old is only two-seasons removed from a sixth-place finish in the American League Cy Young Award race.

While Montas will likely be pitching on a one-year deal to prove that he is the same pitcher he once was, the Padres can afford to take that risk.
With pitchers Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and newly-acquired Michael King all etched into the top of the rotation, Montas would be given a spot in the rotation where he wouldn't have as much pressure to produce instantly and can continue working his way back from injury.
Montas could also make an enticing trade piece if he plays well for the Padres, giving them a chance to recoup some prospects in return if they felt like they will lose him next offseason.