MLB Rumors: Another Team Revealed To Be In The Trade Chase For A’s All-Star

Just when we thought we had the major players in the Matt Olson trade sweepstakes figured out, word has leaked of another new entrant. The San Diego Padres, according to Dennis Lin of The Athletic, are expected to "in the mix" for the Oakland A's slugging 1st baseman as well, once the lockout ends. 

Padres general manager AJ Preller touched base with the A's before the lockout, and expressed interest in Olson. Yes, San Diego already has Eric Hosmer at 1B, but we all know how that's worked out so far. Hosmer is in the middle of a huge 8-year, $144M deal, but his production hasn't been anywhere close to matching the value of his contract. Hosmer has a middling .264 average in his 4 years in San Diego, and an equally mediocre .738 OPS. Last season, he hit 12 home runs with 65 RBIs in 151 games. 

Olson would be a huge upgrade, and with the adoption of the DH in the National League, a spot would open up in the lineup so that the Pads could enlist two first baseman. 

Olson is just 27, and has two more years of team control, with numbers that dwarf Hosmer's, after the A's masher hit 39 HRs with 111 RBIs last season, with a .911 OPS. 

Could Olson & Hosmer Co-Exist? 

Lin, however, writes that there'd be concerns with the "clubhouse dynamics" of Hosmer watching his replacement take his job at first. The other option, he writes, to make this work, would be for the Padres "to engineer a three-team trade, never an easy endeavor — unless they find a separate deal for Hosmer, which we already know to be difficult."

In summary, it would be challenge for the Padres, but still, it's hard to look the other way when you're a team in need of an offensive boost, and a talent like Olson is made available.

Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports