MLB writer's Urgency Index reveals Padres glaring trade deadline need

The San Diego Padres did not think they would be spending the trade deadline desperately searching for bats. 

After all, they returned nearly every core member from an offense that led Major League Baseball with a .263 batting average and finished in the top ten in both home runs and runs scored. Yet due to a series of injuries and underperformances, the Padres have plummeted to 25th in runs scored and have homered less frequently than every team except the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates. Other than superstars Manny Machado and Fernando Tatís Jr., the Padres don’t have a single other hitter with an OPS topping .750. The subpar sophomore campaign of Jackson Merrill, who has seen his slugging percentage drop over 100 points from 2024, has garnered most of the attention, but much of the Padres' inconsistencies come from the fact that they have four different players with at least 100 at-bats and an OPS below .570. Simply put, when the Padres' stars aren’t carrying the load, they aren’t going to score runs. 

The Padres have made no secret about their intentions to add another big bat, particularly in regards to Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran. The 2024 All-Star Game Most Valuable Player has been rumored to be the club’s top target, but a deal between the two clubs appears unlikely after the Red Sox’s red-hot July. But even if the Padres strike out Duran, The Athletic’s Tim Britton believes adding another reliable hitter is a must this trade deadline, ranking them first on his updated Offensive Urgency Index.

“The bad news is San Diego desperately needs to add a bat to that mix, and desperation isn’t a great look in late July,” Britton wrote. “The good news is that the bar is so low for improvement that the Padres’ lineup will look much better with a league-average bat in left. The Friars could look to upgrade behind the plate as well.” 

Though there are few proven catchers available on the trade market this year, the Padres have many options to choose from to fill their left field need. They could make a deal for streaking Chicago White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. or look at Atlanta Braves veteran Marcell Ozuna to man the designated hitter spot while keeping the surprisingly productive Gavin Sheets in left.

More MLB: Astros linked to $11.5 million Orioles All-Star ahead of deadline