With the Cleveland Guardians unable to get an extension done with Jose Ramirez, another team has entered the trade rumor mill, with the Padres reportedly eyeing the three-time All-Star.
The Blue Jays were rumored to be showing interest over the weekend, but now MLB Insider Hector Gomez is saying the Padres are trying to get a deal done before Opening Day.
Perhaps Ramirez’s agent is drumming up interest to get the Guardians moving, knowing full well how bad the team looks leaving the future of its best player uncertain.
If I’m the Guardians, a Toronto package may be more enticing if outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Cavan Biggio are on the table, as the Padres’ farm system has “thinned out” considerably the past few seasons due to trades.
According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, the Padres have the 17th ranked farm system in baseball per the MLB Pipeline.
Cleveland Guardians helped think Padres system
The Guardians are responsible for that to some degree, as Cleveland acquired four prospects, in a addition to Josh Naylor and Austin Hedges, for Mike Clevinger during the 2020 season.
The top-rated San Diego prospect remains shortstop C.J. Abrams, whom Callis wrote is “One of the most electric youngsters in the game…”
The Guards got a shortstop from the Padres named Gabriel Arias. The Guardians are high on him and he’ll likely start the season at Class AAA Columbus. Arias could be in the big leagues by June.
Arias is currently ranked as the 73rd best prospect in baseball (MLB) and is Cleveland’s No. 3 ranked prospect.
Center fielder Robert Hassell III would be intriguing, but the eighth overall pick in the 2020 draft wouldn’t be able to help out in Cleveland for a couple more seasons. He was promoted to High-A at the end of last season.
Callis added that San Diego has been aggressive on the international free-agent market and suggested that those prospects may start to see their stocks rise.
Long story short–it’s going to take a lot for a team to get the bargain that is Jose Ramirez for the next two seasons and the Padres shelves are looking bare. If the Guards do move their third basemen, they’ve got to get an all-time haul.
As for an extension, time is running out. It’s been reported that Opening Day is serving as the deadline to get a deal done.
Cleveland opens up the regular season at Kansas City tomorrow, with a first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m.