Padres rumors: Shopping high-priced stars as precursor to Nelson Cruz move?

The latest San Diego Padres rumors could be a precursor to the addition of Nelson Cruz.

Two contracts stand out on the San Diego Padres roster. It’s the four years and $60 million left for first baseman Eric Hosmer and the $20 million owed to Wil Myers (with a $1 million buyout in 2023). According to recent Padres rumors courtesy of Mark Feinsand, the team is looking to “aggressively shop” the pair.

The Padres are in the mode to win this year but also hopeful they can shed themselves of these two salaries.

It should come as no shock to see these two names appear in Padres rumors as trade candidates. Since almost the start of those deals, it seems like the team has been trying to move on.

Padres rumors: Trading Eric Hosmer or Wil Myers could be a precursor to signing Nelson Cruz

In related Padres rumors, the team is one of the finalists to sign free agent designated hitter Nelson Cruz. It’s reportedly down to the Padres or Dodgers.

Adding yet another high-priced bat to the ball club would limit them greatly from adding elsewhere. The team needs to allow some flexibility to make trades mid-year should they remain in contention as they plan to be.

Fortunately, Hosmer and Myers aren’t necessarily albatrosses. Hosmer is still productive enough for a team to consider him. The addition of the DH to the National League could be enough to convince a club to move their current first baseman into a DH role then move Hosmer to the field. Myers, another quality bat yet an overpaid one, only has a one-year commitment. Teams hoping to compete with him could be candidates. Let’s also not discount the possibility of the Padres tossing in a prospect in a more salary-dump focused move.

Perhaps the Milwaukee Brewers, a team previously linked to Cruz, could be a candidate for either. They have tons of pitching and not much hitting. If San Diego is willing to eat a part of the contract of either, it’s something for them to consider.