Padres Rumors: Insider Believes Waiting for Shohei Ohtani is Smarter Play for Depleted Friars
As the trade deadline approaches, it's clear that the San Diego Padres season hasn't gone according to plan. They sit pretty far below the final Wild Card spot in the National League and have their work cut out for them if they want to make a playoff push.
The team has signaled that they still want to be buyers at the trade deadline despite this, even if it doesn't seem like the best decision. But General Manager AJ Preller is a very opportunistic person, and he likely still believes in his roster.
One of the biggest names that could be available at the trade deadline is Angels' two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. The Padres are said to be one of the teams that will go after Ohtani this winter, but could they make a run for him this summer instead?
One insider believes that they would be better served waiting until the winter when they can just outright sign him, rather than trading away more of their already depleted farm system.
"The farm isn’t as deep as it once was. The Padres would have to seriously weigh the cost of further depleting that group (though catcher Ethan Salas, the top-rated international prospect in the latest class, appears to be untouchable). It might not be a tenable strategy to trade for Ohtani when they could merely pursue him in free agency."
After the big trade for star outfielder Juan Soto last trade deadline, the Padres should hold off on any big moves this summer. They still have a ton of talent left on their roster, and throwing more prospects away won't solve anything.
They will likely be players for Ohtani this winter and can get his services by just signing him. This is the more suitable direction to go but if there is anything we know about Preller, he likes shiny objects and isn't afraid to go get them.
