Trade Candidate: Carlos Quentin

What are the Padres planning on doing with Quentin?

Carlos Quentin has yet to play a game in a Padres uniform, and there is already speculation about whether the Padres will trade him at the deadline. The Padres acquired Quentin from the White Sox in the off-season and many were confused by the move. The Padres were not expected to compete this year, and they went out and made a trade to acquire a Tier-2 corner outfielder with power. The Padres are currently in a rebuilding phase and I wouldn't be surprised if they try to trade him this season.

Perhaps they may want to have him return from the disabled list first and prove that he is healthy and producing before shipping him off to a contender. Quentin has always had nice power but has struggled at times to keep his batting average high. Playing at PETCO park will not help his case but if he manages to regain some of his value, I'm sure the Padres will look to deal him. The outfield market is weak right now so I'm sure some team would snatch him up.

Teams that could be interested could be the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, or even the Red Sox. The Braves have a deep farm system and could get him to play left field. They currently have utility man Martin Prado playing left field so Quentin would clearly be an upgrade. The Dodgers have Kemp and Either, so why would they want Quentin? Well, he could play left field for them. The Dodgers also are lacking power in left field, with washed up veterans Juan Rivera and Bobby Abreu and rookie Scott Van Slyke currently manning the position. The Red Sox have made a few moves to upgrade their outfield depth so far this season, acquiring Scott Podsednik and Marlon Byrd, but Quentin would yet again be an upgrade over those two players and would probably enjoy a nice year hitting at Fenway with that green monster.