MLB Trade Deadline: 5 trades Padres should make

3. Sell Derek Norris

The trade for Norris was another one of Preller’s initial big moves that hasn’t worked out, as he has regressed heavily over the past season and a half. Still, with so many contenders looking for catching help, Norris may draw enough interest to get moved.

If such a trade opportunity arises, the Padres should take advantage, as selling off Norris makes plenty of sense from a roster construction standpoint. Norris will be entering arbitration in the offseason and could become a free agent, and moving him would free up playing time for catcher of the future Austin Hedges, who is demolishing Triple-A pitching this year.

Norris burst onto the scene in 2013 with the Oakland Athletics by posting a 114 wRC+ in 98 games according to FanGraphs, making him one of the best hitting catchers in the AL. The 27-year-old was an All-Star the next season with a 122 wRC+ fueled by great plate discipline skills.

There were legitimate concerns about Norris’ defense at catcher, but the Padres liked his bat enough to trade promising prospect Jesse Hahn for him before the 2015 season. Norris was a roughly league-average hitter last year, and his been poor with a 79 wRC+ in 281 plate appearances this season.

The good news for San Diego is that Norris hit well in June and has been even hotter at the plate to begin July. Should Norris continue that form up until the Aug. 1 deadline, a contender might be willing to gamble on his hot streak continuing.

Whoever loses out on the Jonathan Lucroy sweepstakes out of the Red Sox, Texas Rangers or Houston Astros might be interested in Norris, even as a part-time player.

Next: 2. Shop multiple members of the rotation