Padres Rumors: Friars Insider Expects Team to Move On From 2023 Trade Deadline Acquisition
The Padres are gearing up for the offseason and with that comes a lot of moves that will put the Friars in a better position to win next year.
That comes with the harsh reality that some players won't be coming back to San Diego. Top players like Josh Hader and Blake Snell are not expected to re-sign with the Padres as both players will most likely command contracts too expensive for the Padres.
Another name being thrown around was trade deadline acquisition Garrett Cooper who was acquired from the Marlins with an expiring contract and the possibility to provide a quality bat from first base.
"Cooper supplied professional at-bats and a .725 OPS after his trade from Miami. He’s a competent option for someone who splits his time between first base and DH, but the Padres might need to reserve more room for roster flexibility, especially if Machado is defensively limited to begin next season."
Cooper spent almost six years with Miami where he was a career .269 hitter with a .774 OPS. Cooper was a slightly above-average batter that provided good defense at the corner infield spot.
When Cooper came over to San Diego he was expected to help out at first base while also being a designated hitter for a team looking to challenge for a Wild Card spot.
Unfortunately, the Padres missed the Wild Card and Cooper's stats took a slight dip compared to his numbers with the Marlins.
In 41 games with the Padres, Cooper hit a .239 average and had a .725 OPS.
The slight dip in numbers might push the Padres away from offering him a contract this offseason but a team-friendly deal might still be put on the table since he is a veteran presence that can help this younger team.
