Examining potential Padres left field trade targets: What impact could they have in San Diego?

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres are searching for an upgrade in left field and GM A.J. Preller will certainly be one of the most aggressive execs during trade deadline season. Exciting possibilities await America's Finest City as the outfield market takes shape.

Through 67 regular season games, San Diego stands at 38-29 and two games back of first place in the National League West. Vying for their second consecutive postseason appearance since the '05-'06 seasons, upgrades will be necessary to make noise in October. A true left fielder could make the difference in pursuing a run at the Commissioner's Trophy while their competitive window is still open.

As they've tried to fill the corner outfield spot with veteran Jason Heyward, Brandon Lockridge, utility-man Tyler Wade, and 1B/DH Gavin Sheets, the Padres have received the second worst production in baseball from a left field standpoint. With the exception of Sheets who is not a true outfielder, the other three current options are batting a combined dreadful .206 with two home runs and -0.3 WAR.

With this year's trade deadline slated for July 31 at 6:00 p.m. ET, San Diego has already been linked to numerous outfielders who could help fill the void. Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported that A.J. Preller is once again trying to acquire all-star outfielder Jarren Duran from the Boston Red Sox and ESPN's Jeff Passan recently linked Luis Robert Jr. of the Chicago White Sox as a possible fit for the Friars. Let's take a dive into what these two and others could potentially bring to Petco Park this summer:

Jarren Duran, BOS

After a stellar 2024 season in which he was named to the American League All-Star squad and received MVP votes, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran checks all the boxes of a prototypical A.J. Preller guy. A left-handed bat who hits for hard contact with some power, fast and aggressive on the base paths, a great glove, and hunger to win makes for a natural fit for the Padres. Although he isn't off to a scorching start like last season, Duran is slashing a respectable .271/.325/.753 with five homers and 38 RBI.

Per his Baseball Savant profile, he has 13 opposite-field extra-base hits this season. In Boston, taking advantage of the 'Green Monster' is certainly a luxury, but Duran's ability of finding power to the opposite direction would pay dividends playing in Petco Park's dimensions. He ranks in the 92nd percentile in Baserunning Run Value, meaning he manufactures runs while on-base whether it's via a steal or taking extra bases. His aggressiveness on the base paths led to 34 steals in 2024, which ranked him fourth in the AL.

Fielding wise, he's regressed this season, but made strides last year for 10 Outs Above Average and a 90% Expected Catch Rate. It's unclear if the Red Sox are motivated to move Duran this season. It's even more skeptical if San Diego possesses the means to acquire the 28 year-old with three plus years of club control. With the arrival of baseball's no. 1 overall prospect in outfielder Roman Anthony for Boston, Craig Breslow and co. might just listen on what kind of haul they can get back.

Luis Robert Jr., CWS

Perhaps one of the most intriguing names at this year's deadline, the Cuban outfielder would be quite the get for the Padres. Once thought of as a perennial year-to-year MVP candidate, Luis Robert Jr.'s sudden decline was a shock to pretty much everyone. His most impressive season came in 2023 by hitting .264 with 38 home runs and 80 RBI in 145 games. He also made the AL All-Star roster and won a Silver Slugger Award that season. Since, Robert has been a mere shell of himself. between last season and this year, he's mustered a .210 batting average and 20 home runs.

At times, a lack of effort and poor body language have reflected poorly on his character. Whether it stems from a lack of confidence or playing on a ball club that set the modern day single-season loss record, a change of scenery could perhaps turn Robert's fortunes.

He currently sits second in stolen bases in the AL with 21. He ranks in the 89th percentile for Sprint Speed and is drawing walks 10.4% of the time. Again, an effective pattern of getting on base and elite base running fall in line with the Friar philosophy. At the plate, he's still a threat to hit the ball hard. He's registered a max exit-velocity of 115.8 mph off the bat this season, which ranks in the top four percent in all of baseball.

Robert's pull-hitter tendencies would play well at Petco Park, considering the left field wall's 336 foot distance from home plate. Four of the outfielder's six homers this season have gone to left or left-center field, all of which have traveled more than 350 ft. His bat speed ranks in the 93rd percentile and is hitting .255 off fastball's, which as a team, San Diego hits well. 

The Padres would probably like to put a right-handed power bat between Jackson Merrill and Gavin Sheets in the everyday lineup. Acquiring a player who, at 27 years-old, could revert back to MVP form is quite tantalizing. 

Taylor Ward, LAA

Having a breakout slugging campaign in Anaheim, Ward is one of the Angel's hottest hitters at the dish this season. Despite a measly .204 average, the left fielder has slugged 18 home runs and driven in 46 RBI in 66 games thus far. He's squaring-up pitches 29.7% of the time, while maintaining his Barrel Percentage in the 90th percentile according to Baseball Savant. Seeming to primarily hit for power this season, The Fresno State product has collected a total of 31 extra-base hits.

In the field, he's an average defender, and would slot into the middle of the Friar's lineup. On May 12, Ward hit a towering go-ahead grand slam against San Diego to cap-off a six run ninth inning, which would ultimately lead to a 9-5 Halos triumph. 

As the Angels continue to go back-and-forth between .500, it's still a bit too soon to tell if they'll be selling at this year's deadline. If they find themselves in position to make a playoff push, one would imagine Ward would remain in Ron Washington's lineup as a key contributor to Anaheim's October aspirations.

Adolis García, TEX

On an under-performing Texas Rangers team who won the World Series two seasons ago, Adolis García might be a trade chip for GM Chris Young come trade season. The corner outfielder still possesses hard-contact qualities that could make for an upgrade in San Diego. After a 39 homer year in 2023, García has regressed in the slugging department, seeing his OPS drop a near 200 points from .836 in '23 to .644 in 2025. 

According to Statcast's Expected Home Runs by Park, 'El Bombi' would have clobbered 50 homers to the 39 he hit in '23 playing in San Diego's Petco Park rather than in Texas' Globe Life Field (excluding environmental effects). The slugger still remains in the 92nd percentile in Avg Exit Velocity and 80th percentiles in Hard-Hit and Barrel percentage. 

Defensively, the Cuba native has a cannon for an arm, throwing out 17 runners since 2021. He's averaged 91.8 mph on his throws from his position to the infield, his highest tally since 2023.

For A.J. Preller, García wouldn't come too expensive, as the 32 year-old is under contract until after the 2026 season. 

Ryan O'Hearn, BAL

One of baseball's biggest disappointments this season, the Baltimore Orioles are 27-40 and find themselves in last place in a daunting AL East. Barring a spectacular turn around, the O's look like seller's as each day passes by. Outfielder Ryan O'Hearn seems to be a name Baltimore might dangle as the deadline approaches. 

O'Hearn is slashing .307/.389/.871 this season, and could be a piece that helps the Padres down the stretch as October draws near. The Dunedin, Florida native ranks in the 91st percentile in xwOBA and uses all parts of the diamond to get on-base. According to his spray chart on Baseball Savant, the righty-bat's opposite-field slug is notable, notching seven extra-base hits the other way. His XBA ranks in the top two percent in MLB, coming in at a .316 clip.

He's mashed right-handed pitching, slugging his way to .925 OPS against them with nine homers and 25 RBI. O'Hearn also does not strike out often, posting the second lowest mark of his career in strikeout rate at 17.5%.