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Washington Nationals Should Attempt To Take On Padres Large Contracts

By Max Rayman

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 09: General manager Mike Rizzo looks on during batting practice before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on April 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 09: General manager Mike Rizzo looks on during batting practice before a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park on April 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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The Padres are looking to free up money by moving either Wil Myers or Eric Hosmer. Washington needs to pick up the phone and gauge the market.

To say the 2021 San Diego Padres were a disappointment is an understatement. They entered the season as World Series contenders thanks to a roster that included Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Eric Hosmer, Wil Myers, Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, and Mark Melancon. But a plethora of injuries to the starting rotation derailed their season.

Despite being in win-now mode, the Padres don’t have the money to bolster the roster with FanGraphs projecting their 2022 payroll at $214,774,048. On pace to exceed the luxury tax for the second straight season, the Padres are set to pay a 30% penalty.

The Padres already traded away Adam Frazier who was projected to earn $7.2 million in arbitration. The next move for the Padres would be to trade either Wil Myer or Eric Hosmer. Entering the last year of his deal, Myers is owed $21 million this year and has a $20 million mutual option with a $1 million buyout for 2023.

Hosmer on the other hand is owed $59 million over the next four years. A key component in the Kansas City Royals 2015 World Series title, he has yet to live up to his contract with San Diego. In four seasons, he is hitting .264, with 61 homers, 269 RBIs, and an OPS of .738. A three-time gold glover with the Royals, his defense has slowly started to deteriorate.

At the 2021 trade deadline, the Padres discussed with the Cubs and Rangers about off-loading Hosmer’s contract while also giving up top prospects Robert Hassell and Luis Campusano respectively.

Mortgaging the farm in order to free up space isn’t the smartest move for San Diego, but if they are willing to go down that road Washington needs to be in on this. They have the money to take on either Myers or Hosmer”s contract and need to find a way to continue bolstering their farm system.

Myers can play all three outfield positions, first, and third, while Hosmer predominately plays first. Both would also be candidates to DH. In the middle of a rebuild, by the time Washington is ready to contend, Myers would no longer be on the books, while Hosmer would be at the end of his deal.

Both Campusano and Hassell are elite prospects and if either is available, Washington needs to pull the trigger.

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