Padres predicted to offload major leaguer at trade deadline

The MLB trade deadline for the San Diego Padres could be a very interesting time. With the potential to add a catcher, left fielder, bullpen, and maybe even a starter, a lot can change on the roster by the end of the month.

But, it might not just be additions that occur to the MLB roster in San Diego. In a prediction from Padres writer Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the Padres could look to move on from a player on the MLB roster at the deadline.

"The Padres will buy at the deadline and, as always, A.J. Preller is aiming high." Lin writes. "To address multiple needs, the general manager may feel compelled to move a contract or two."

A recent trend in baseball has been teams both buying and selling at the deadline. Instead of holding onto contracts and players that don't fit the roster, teams have been moving on from veterans to make deals work for the roster.

The Padres could do a similar thing this deadline, and there are three players Lin names as potential options to move on from at the deadline.

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"Dylan Cease and Robert Suarez are among the Padres expected to test free agency this winter." Lin writes. "Jake Cronenworth has a partial no-trade clause and interest from other contenders."

Suarez and Cease could fetch a nice return on the trade block, with starters and closers being among the most sought-after commodities at the deadline. Of course, the Padres would then need to plug that hole, but they could find a cheaper option elsewhere.

Cronenworth, on the other hand, is not set to be a free agent and also has a no-trade clause. He could nix certain deals, but there are still teams interested in the versatile infielder.

Any of those three could be moved, and Lin predicts that Preller will get creative and use at least one of those players to both buy and sell at this year's MLB trade deadline.

Losing Major League talent at the deadline, while still being buyers, is a real possibility for the Padres. Cease, Suarez, and Cronenworth could all help bolster the roster in a trade, even if the hole they leave behind needs to be filled.

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