Willson Contreras and 2 other catchers to aim

The San Diego Padres have already traded for Juan Soto, Josh Bell and Josh Hader. But they could still trade for a catcher.

That San Diego Padres already have a decent corps of catchers from Jorge Alfaro and Austin Nola, but they go all-in at the close of trade as they are rumored to be looking at some catchers after trading for outfielder Juan Soto, first baseman Josh Bell and closer Josh Hader.

Alfaro goes into Trade Deadline Day at .273/.307/.439 with a wRC+ of 111 with seven homers, 33 RBI and 13 doubles in 61 games. Defensively, he is in the league average for pitch framing (0 Catch framing runs) and below the league average defensively (-3 defensive runs saved). Austin Nola hits .238/.309/.304 with a wRC+ of 78. He’s also struggled defensively behind the plate (-4 DRS and -5 catch framing runs), but he can also play second and third base (as he did) . this year).

Overall, the duo’s offense totals a 93 wRC+, which is seven percent below the league average but also the ninth-best catch in the sport.

Since they’re on the lookout for scavengers, here are three scavengers to check out in the trade market.

3 catchers the Padres might be eyeing

1) Cub catcher Willson Contreras

Willson Contreras is the best overall player left on the market, so from the Padres’ perspective they would further extend their trade deadline if they traded for him.

For the Cubs backstop, he was the NL’s starting catcher for the All-Star Game last month. In 86 games played, he hit .252/.365/.453, 14 home runs, 38 RBI and 20 doubles with a wRC+ of 132. Defense was below league average (-3 DRS) but above average pitch framing (1 CFR) .

The Padres may no longer have the prospect of acting for him, but if they do, it would be a major coup.

2) Tiger catcher Tucker Barnhart

The Tigers need to give perspective to some of their veterans as they are nowhere near competitive. Barnhart would be the cheapest of the three options as he is having a bad year but is also a free agent at the end of the season.

He’s played in 65 games that season for the Tigers and he’s hit .203/.259/.235 with an OPS+ of 44, so he won’t improve their offense. He was league average with pitch framing and below average defensively (-4 DRS).

Barnhart would essentially be a depth piece, which always helps, especially since there is no longer a waiver trade deadline. One injury to a catcher and the Padres could be screwed without someone like Barnhart.

3) Sean Murphy of Oakland A

While Willson Contreras would get a lot for a trade, Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy could actually get more. Unlike Contreras or Barnhart, Murphy is signed for the next three seasons after this year, so he could be their catcher for the foreseeable future while Soto, Tatis Jr., Machado and others are in the group. And best of all, Murphy is one of the best catchers in baseball.

In 93 games this year, Murphy has hit .238/.314/.423 with a wRC+ of 112, 12 homers, 41 RBI and 24 doubles. Defensively, he was above the league average in both defensive (1 DRS) and pitch framing (6 CFR). For the 6 CFR, that’s second best among all catchers this season.

His 2.7 fWAR is the fifth-highest among catchers this season. So if they have the prospects, it would be another big win for the Padres.

Most importantly, his only MLB manager ahead of this season? Bob Melvin, who is now the Padres’ manager. Melvin, himself a former MLB catcher, knows how good Murphy is, and Murphy has worked with at least one Padres pitcher before: former A-starter Sean Manaea.