Padres Rumors: Friars Linked to Power-Hitting Infielder in Free Agency
If it didn't work out quite like the Padres hoped last season, maybe doubling down isn't the best plan for next season. The Friars were among the most active teams on the hot stove last winter, playing on the high end of the market for several key free agents.
They ultimately came away with shortstop Xander Bogaerts, which forced a fairly seismic shift on the infield. Now one MLB insider believes San Diego will be in the mix on another slugging infielder.
MLB.com's Mark Feinsand linked long-time Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins to the Pads in free agency.
From Feinsand: A torn left ACL kept Hoskins out for all of 2023, but the 30-year-old has been a steady power source since breaking into the league in 2017. Hoskins has hit at least 27 home runs in each of his four full seasons, so as long as his knee isn’t an issue, he should be among the top power bats available this offseason.
Potential fits: Brewers, Mariners, Padres
Getting back to something I wrote a couple lines above, the Padres infield quickly got a bit disheveled with the addition of Bogaerts last winter. The signing forced top defensive shortstop Ha-Seong Kim over to second base and All-Star second baseman Jake Cronenworth over to first base leading to season-long problems for former manager Bob Melvin.
Cronenworth is offensively out of position as a first baseman. Combine that with the fact that he put together the worst year of his young career and led to the Friars being handcuffed at times. Particularly considering he's signed to a long-term deal in San Diego.
Rhys Hoskins has displayed big time power over the course of his career and fits in more as a traditional first baseman. But, as it stands, the Padres already have too many infielders to make Hoskins truly make sense, at least how the club stands right now.
If AJ Preller gets creative while trading away left fielder Juan Soto, maybe Cronenworth could attempt to learn the position and free up some versatility for the club. But, with the team expected to trim payroll this offseason, adding another star on a multiyear deal plainly just doesn't make sense.
