MLB rumors: 5 favorites to trade for Aroldis Chapman
By Josh Wilson
Favorites to trade for Aroldis Chapman: San Diego Padres
Looking purely at the current state of relief pitchers in the Padres organization, San Diego probably doesn’t need Aroldis Chapman. That said, they had an interest in him along with the Royals while he was still a late winter free agent, and adding him to the bullpen wouldn’t hurt.
The Padres have the eighth-best WHIP among relieving pitcher staffs but are middle of the road in most others. A Chapman addition certainly wouldn’t hurt. The Padres have the third-highest payroll in the MLB and the edict when you spend that big is simple: Win. Any moves that get them closer to that are necessary.
The pressure is on with the Padres third in the NL West at 21-26, eight games back from the Dodgers in first place.
As for the status quo, Josh Hader has 11 saves for the Padres this season, fourth-most in the MLB, along with a 0.95 ERA. Chapman might have to take a backseat to the closer role and come in as a high-leverage reliever in the 6th or 7th inning and beyond in San Diego, which isn’t the best fit for him, which is why we have one team that I think fits just slightly better.