The San Diego Padres have exceeded expectations early this season, jumping out to a strong 31-23 record and trailing the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers by just two games in the NL West.
Their impressive start is particularly notable given a relatively uneventful offseason, during which several key players from last year departed. The team’s biggest move was signing starter Nick Pivetta to a four-year, $55 million contract in February.
Despite those offseason losses, the Padres have maintained their momentum from last season and are emerging as a legitimate contender. Still, one glaring weakness remains: left field.
San Diego lost last year’s starting left fielder, All-Star Jurickson Profar, who signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Atlanta Braves before being suspended for violating the league’s banned substance policy.
The Padres’ attempt to replace Profar’s production has fallen short. They brought in veterans Jason Heyward and Connor Joe to form a platoon, but Joe has already been dealt to the Reds, and Heyward has struggled mightily, batting just .176 and currently on his second injured list stint of the season.
In search of a solution, the Padres are exploring trade options. Jason Fray of Sports Illustrated suggested a potential target in Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
“Tyler O’Neill of the Baltimore Orioles is a guy that could end up being a major difference-maker,” Fray noted. “He’s a tremendous athlete with a powerful arm and home run-hitting ability.”
O’Neill, who’s recovering from a shoulder injury, started the season strong before cooling off. He’s currently hitting .188 with two homers and a .605 OPS. However, he’s not far removed from a productive 2023 campaign with the Boston Red Sox, where he hit over 30 home runs for the second time in his career and posted an .847 OPS. He’s also a two-time Gold Glove winner—an ideal fix for San Diego’s most pressing need.
O’Neill signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract this offseason but has the option to opt out after 2025. As Fray put it, “San Diego could take a chance on O’Neill bouncing back. If he performs well, he might test free agency again, and the Padres wouldn’t be locked into a long-term deal. If he doesn’t, he’d likely stay under contract for two more years, which still keeps the commitment short during his prime years.”
With the Orioles sitting at 19-36, they may be sellers at the trade deadline—potentially opening the door for a Padres-O’Neill deal.
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