Padres named potential landing spot for ex-Marlins, Cardinals slugger

Jared Bloom

•
Padres named potential landing spot for ex-Marlins, Cardinals slugger image

The San Diego Padres come into the offseason with a few holes they need to fill. They could use another frontline starter, a high-contact infield bat, and some power either at designated hitter or at first base. 

Luckily, they were able to get a deal done with Michael King, taking away one of their needs for a starting pitcher. The two sides agreed on a three-year, $75 million contract. 

So, expect the front office to have its sights set on some offense and another pitcher. If not, it could be hard to compete in the NL West with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

MORE: Robert Suarez's deal with the Braves deemed as a huge overpay

Padres named potential landing spot for ex-Marlins, Cardinals slugger 

The free agent market is starting to shrink by the day. Some teams are starting to see their targets signing contracts with opposing teams, leaving them to scramble or ditch their plans altogether. 

With a limited market at first base, and especially DH, the Padres may have to get a deal done sooner rather than later. Luckily for them, Marcell Ozuna is still sitting on the open market, and Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer believes he would be a great addition for San Diego. 

"Ozuna's plate discipline had never been better. He walked a career-high 15.9 percent of the time, with a chase rate in the 85th percentile. If that alone could be the foundation for a solid 113 OPS-plus like the one he had this year, then there's a lot more waiting if he can turn some of that power back on."

Despite being a good fit for San Diego, that is not the only potential landing spot Rymer has picked out. He also views the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Miami Marlins as teams that have a shot to sign Ozuna this offseason. 

More MLB news:

News Correspondent