BREAKING: Padres to confirm trade for lucrative Star Infielder after declining Blockbuster deal with Dodgers

The San Diego Padres are aiming to strengthen their roster this winter, hoping to close the gap on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Historically trailing their division rivals, the Padres now have an opportunity to potentially leap ahead. Both teams were reportedly on the wish list for St. Louis Cardinals’ trade candidate Nolan Arenado, but with the Dodgers appearing hesitant, the Padres might swoop in and make the move first.

Here’s a hypothetical trade scenario that could send Arenado to San Diego:

San Diego Padres receive:

• 3B Nolan Arenado
• $20 million

St. Louis Cardinals receive:

• OF Tirso Ornelas (No. 18 prospect)

This straightforward deal would see the Cardinals parting ways with Arenado and contributing $20 million to offset his salary, while acquiring outfield prospect Tirso Ornelas. Ornelas, who posted an impressive .864 OPS in Triple-A last season, has steadily developed and could compete for a roster spot in St. Louis by 2025.

However, the practicality of this trade is questionable given the Padres’ loaded infield, featuring several highly paid stars. For the Padres to accommodate Arenado, they would need to restructure their infield, potentially offloading players like Luis Arraez to create space.

While unlikely, this scenario highlights how the Padres could bolster their lineup with a premier talent like Arenado. If San Diego begins moving pieces around, their pursuit of Arenado could quickly become a reality, potentially securing an edge over the Dodgers in the NL West.