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Padres predicted to trade for Rays' 25-homer 1B despite Nick Castellanos signing

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Padres predicted to trade for Rays' 25-homer 1B despite Nick Castellanos signing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The San Diego Padres are in the market for more offensive help this spring and for the 2026 season. While they've added some players, including Nick Castellanos, A.J. Preller has a knack for making trades.

The Padres could use more offensive firepower, and this upcoming season, the Padres could use the trade deadline to land a better first baseman both offensively and defensively than Castellanos.

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report is predicting the Padres do just that by trading for a Tampa Bay Rays first baseman who hit 25 home runs last year. This veteran infielder, Yandy Diaz, would be a great option for the next two seasons for the Padres.

Padres predicted to trade for Yandy Diaz

"(Yandy Diaz) Ends Season With: San Diego Padres," Miller writes. "And if the Nick Castellanos, league minimum salary experiment at first base doesn't pan out for the Padres, they're likely to be in the market for a 1B/DH type of hits-for-average bat after a few months of missing Luis Arreaz's value added to the lineup."

The Padres adding Diaz would be a very nice pickup. He's under contract for one more season at $12 million, but he has a 2027 option worth $10 million, which will become vested at $13 million if he reaches 500 at-bats in 2026.

Last season, Diaz, in 583 at-bats, recorded 175 hits, 29 doubles, 25 home runs, and a batting average of .300 with an .848 OPS. He's one of the better hitters in the league, but is incredibly underrated thanks to being on the Rays.

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The 34-year-old slugger would be a fantastic trade option for the Padres. Of course, they will need to be in a win-now mode by the trade deadline if this prediction from Miller comes true.

But with a good lineup, solid rotation, and league-best bullpen, the Padres should be a postseason contender by the deadline.

And with Castellanos not likely to work out at first base, adding Diaz in a trade would make a lot of sense for the Padres this season.

The All-Star Batting Title champion from 2023, Diaz, would be a fantastic addition for Preller to make. If Miller's prediction comes true, the Padres would be getting one of the better hitters in the Majors added to their already strong lineup for a World Series run.

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