Five Best Potential Trading Partners for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Josh Bell

San Diego Padres

The Padres’ current first base situation is not the best (it is far from it actually), and their DH situation would be even worse off if the position were to be brought to the NL. Currently, Eric Hosmer is their first baseman. But so far that contract has been a sunk cost. In the first two years in a Friars’ jersey, the former Royals’ All-Star has hit .259/.316/.412. It’s not far-fetched to say that Hosmer has been one of the worst batters in the game in the past two years. His 93 wRC+ ties him with Alex Gordon, and places him 95th among 114 batters with at least 1,000 plate appearances. In terms of OPS, he ranks 93rd of 114 qualified batters. Hosmer is still owed a boatload of cash at $102 million across the next 6 seasons. He does have an opt out after 2022, but we know that isn’t going to happen.

The team’s other options at first are not great either. Another sunk cost in Wil Myers who has plenty of experience at first, but he struggled greatly last season. He posted a 95 OPS+, and will be paid $22.5 million each of the next three seasons. Switch hitter, and former number one overall prospect Jurickson Profar could be an option too, but he has yet to prove himself at the Major League level. The implementation of the DH would create just another hole in the Padres line-up.

But it’s a good thing the Padres have a deep farm system, and a few contracts that a team could take in order to get a higher prospect. If the Pirates were to trade Bell, and take on a contract like Hosmer’s, they would have to get a good prospect in return. That’s where top 50 prospect Luis Campusano would come into play. Last year, Campusano hit for an outstanding .325/.396/.509 line with 15 home runs and 31 doubles in 487 plate appearances at High-A ball. His defense has also been given decent ratings, with MLB.com giving it a current grade of 50, and a 60 arm grade. The Pirates could also get an intriguing arm in the deal, like Ryan Weathers, Cal Quantrill, Adrian Morejon, and Michel Baez. All four of which were once highly regarded prospects in the Padres system.