Cubs: 3 potential trade destinations for a resurgent Ian Happ

Cubs: 3 potential Ian Happ landing spots – #1: San Diego Padres

Finishing it off, we land on the ever-competitive NL West. Currently, the San Diego Padres sit with a record of 30-21, nine games above .500 but still four games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the San Francisco Giants just 2 1/2 games behind San Diego, the Friars are going to need something to solidify their lineup and more importantly, their outfield depth.

Keeping in mind there is an extra Wild Card spot up for grabs this year, you’re going to see teams in crowded divisions like the NL West looking to improve wherever possible. The new format gives certain teams like the Padres (as well as the Braves), who may find themselves out of first place, a real shot at playing meaningful baseball late in the year with a chance at October. Glancing at the numbers the Padres, like several teams before them, could use a switch-hitting outfielder who has remained consistent to this point of the season.

Among the club’s current options in the outfield, Trent Grisham has sputtered to the tune of a .160 average, Wil Myers (more on him soon) is at just .234 and Jose Azocar is at .247 with just 57 at-bats to his credit in his rookie year.

Given the fact superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. will be coming back before long, the Padres will more than likely look to buy at the deadline. When you have a stud such as Tatis who has been out all year, getting him back is almost like acquiring a superstar via trade and the team’s offensive production could skyrocket from just that. However, adding in quality depth will also be a necessity. And it isn’t as if the Cubs haven’t been linked incessantly with San Diego over the last year or so.

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Both before and after the lockout, the Cubs and Padres were in talks to acquire one of Eric Hosmer or Wil Myers in a salary dump for the Padres. Though the talks eventually went nowhere, it is not out of the realm of possibility that the Cubs take on a bigger contract if it nets them a solid top 100 prospect in return. Including Happ in such a move could help Hoyer net an even more impressive haul.