Padres Seen As 'Cleanest Fit' To Sign Gold Glove Award Winner In Free Agency

San Diego could use another outfielder, and one Gold Glove Award winner still is out there.

Could the San Diego Padres make one more addition to the outfield before Opening Day?

This question has been popping up for weeks. San Diego traded Juan Soto and Trent Grisham and now has significantly less depth in the outfield.

San Diego has been linked to a handful of players, but has been cutting payroll and isn't likely to make a large investment. There is even a chance that Padres No. 2 prospect Jackson Merrill makes the club's Opening Day roster if the front office doesn't acquire a veteran between now and March 20.

San Diego is still being floated as an option to land another free agent. One player who is seen as a possible option is veteran outfielder Michael A. Taylor, according to MLB Trade Rumors' Anthony Franco.

"At points this offseason, Taylor has drawn reported interest from the (Boston Red Sox), (Los Angeles Dodgers), Padres, (Los Angeles Angels), (Pittsburgh Pirates), (Cincinnati Reds), (Toronto Blue Jays), and the incumbent (Minnesota Twins). A handful of those teams instead addressed the outfield in other ways. The Dodgers brought back Enrique Hernández. That signing was in conjunction with a trade shipping Manuel Margot to Minnesota, essentially ending the chance of Taylor returning to the Twin Cities. Toronto retained (Kevin Kiermaier) to play center field...

"San Diego stands as the cleanest fit to offer him regular run in center field. Yet given their organizational payroll constraints, it’s unlikely they’re willing to offer a salary in line with the Kiermaier and (Harrison Bader) deals."

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via Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors

San Diego makes a lot of sense for Taylor. He is a veteran who is very solid defensively. He won his lone Gold Glove Award in 2021. Taylor also has some pop left in his bat and hit a career-high 21 home runs last season.

He likely is looking for more than the Padres are willing to offer right now, but if it price tag drops a deal could make a lot of sense.