San Diego Padres Acquire Veterans Ji-Man Choi and Rich Hill to Bolster Roster
Padres Make Moves to Strengthen Playoff Push
In a move to bolster their roster for the playoff push, the San Diego Padres have acquired first baseman Ji-Man Choi and former Dodgers pitcher Rich Hill. Despite currently holding a sub .500 record, the Padres’ General Manager AJ Preller made the decision to buy at the deadline and strengthen their team.
The deal, first reported by Jeff Passan on Tuesday morning, comes as a surprise considering the Padres’ payroll is among the highest in the league, yet the team’s performance hasn’t lived up to expectations this season. Although Blake Snell has been delivering a Cy-Young caliber season, the Padres were initially believed to be sellers in the market, potentially trading players like Snell and closer Josh Hader due to the team’s overall record.
However, San Diego has chosen a different path, opting to add to their already talented roster. They become the third NL West team this week to rival the Dodgers’ moves in the trade market.
The Arizona Diamondbacks recently acquired Mariners closer Paul Sewald, while the San Francisco Giants made a trade with the Seattle Mariners to bring in former Dodger outfielder AJ Pollock.
Although the Padres currently trail both the Diamondbacks and Giants in the division standings, the Dodgers’ recent struggles during their homestand may have influenced San Diego’s decision to strengthen their roster and pursue a playoff spot.
Rich Hill, who has pitched 119 innings with a 7-10 record and a 4.76 ERA for the Pirates this year, will provide valuable pitching depth to the Padres’ rotation. Meanwhile, Ji-Man Choi, with a .205 batting average and an OPS+ of 91, adds infield versatility to the team.
The Dodgers have been proactive in acquiring pitching and infield talent to reinforce their roster, and now the Padres have shown they are not far behind. After facing elimination at the hands of the Padres in the postseason last year, the Dodgers are now keeping a watchful eye on their closest rivals as the regular season approaches its final stretch. With the playoff race heating up, both teams will be eager to secure their spot in the postseason and challenge for the NL West crown.
