Padres linked to Nationals 31-homer All-Star in potential full-circle trade

The San Diego Padres are competing with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West title, and it will be very tricky to supplant the star-studded Dodgers.

To turn the corner, they could look to acquire a star at the trade deadline, and there could be a very fitting, and full-circle trade target for the Padres in the form of a Washington Nationals All-Star who was acquired from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade.

Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer linked the Padres to this 31-homer outfielder in James Wood as a possible trade landing spot this season. With the need for more help on offense, this could be a fun way to bolster the roster.

Padres linked to trade for Nationals' James Wood

"There hasn't been anything solid about the Nationals potentially shopping James Wood, but speculation began to trickle out during spring training," Rymer writes. "... Potential landing spots: San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants."

While the Nationals might not be eager to trade Wood, especially since the 23-year-old is yet to reach his arbitration years, there could be a trade on the horizon for the young lefty power-hitting outfielder.

He had 31 home runs in 2025, made the All-Star team, and was also a participant in the Home Run Derby. Wood is a player that any team in need of offense or outfield help would surely want to acquire.

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There is one major issue with Wood's game that could lead to a trade: his league-leading 221 strikeouts from last year.

For a team like the Padres, that's starting Nick Castellanos consistently, turning one of the lineup spots into Wood instead would be a no-brainer move if they could acquire him without giving up too much in a trade.

Adding Wood isn't out of the realm of possibility for the Padres, as A.J. Preller has a knack for swinging blockbuster trades.

This would be a fun move for the Padres and would be a full-circle moment for Wood as he returns to the Padres after being drafted in the second round of the 2021 MLB draft.

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