MLB Trade Deadline: Four Padres that make sense for Cubs

Jul 6, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Diego Padres second baseman Jedd Gyorko (9) fields a ground ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Jedd Gyorko – Infielder

A former second-round pick of the Padres, Gyorko has been a near-complete failure during his big league career.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

In parts of three seasons in San Diego, he carries a dismal .229/.289/.383 slash-line. He is, by most measures, a sub-par second baseman defensively and since his rookie campaign back in 2013, he’s failed to produce much value at the dish either.

In that rookie season, Gyorko clubbed 23 homers and drove in 63 runs. He was a 2.2 WAR player for the Padres – but since, it’s been a different story.

Sure, he hit 10 long-balls last year for San Diego, but his .612 OPS was over 120 points lower than in his rookie season, and the worst part isn’t even his production (or lack thereof).

It’s his contract.

Gyorko is signed through 2019 on a $35 million deal. That sounds like a bargain. But take into account his struggles since his rookie season and it looks like a bloated, short-sighted move by the former San Diego regime.

Next: Andrew Cashner