Cubs Rumors: New top five likeliest trade targets for Chicago

Apr 12, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit (53) walks off the field after pitching in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Joaquin Benoit – San Diego Padres

After a top-to-bottom offseason overhaul, most had the Padres slotted in among the best in the National League West.

That storyline, however, has not come to fruition and it seems highly likely San Diego will look to unload some payroll over the next five days.

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According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the general consensus throughout the league is that one of the pieces that will be moved is their right-handed reliever Benoit, who is owed $8 million this season and holds an $8 million team option for 2016.

Benoit, 37, hasn’t pitched quite as well as his numbers have indicated this season, posting an impressive 2.32 earned run average to go along with a slightly-less impressive 4.07 FIP. After pitching to a 4.57 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2014, those numbers have plummeted to a 2.38 mark this year.

The veteran right-hander could be a boost to a Chicago team that needs bullpen help. That being said, given some of his peripherals indicate he may be on the decline, he may be a hit-or-miss name for teams at the deadline.

Next: Mike Leake