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MLB Hot Stove: San Diego Padres

By Thomas Conroy

Sep 23, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) reacts after a run scores on a wild pitch during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) reacts after a run scores on a wild pitch during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 23, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws a pitch in the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Hometown hero returns

Rumors circulating out of the recently concluded general manager meetings in Boca Raton, Florida have the Washington Nationals making starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg available on the trade market. The San Diego native would be an ideal fit for the Padres, as their starting rotation desperately needs an ace on top.

The bigger question is whether or not Preller has the necessary pieces to get this deal done. He must be careful not to over-pay for Strasburg’s name value, though having a hometown hero in a Padre uniform would boost local interest and increase ticket sales.

The Padres have to understand that they could be acquiring a rental player for one year, as everyone fully expects Strasburg to test the free agent market after the 2016 season. His agent is Scott Boras, who would probably advise him not to negotiate a long-term deal with San Diego, and instead, seek a bigger payday from a cash-happy open market.

Don’t be surprised if Preller packages some of the prospects that he has stockpiled from his recent transactions to entice the Nats to pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade. Each player is a blue-chip prospect that is projected to make an impact to the lineup once they reach the majors, and more importantly will be under team control until 2019.

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