Earlier this week I reminded the San Diego Padres that it takes three outfielders to fill your customary major league lineup. I don't know if they read my warning or if losing Kosuke Fukudome to the Cubs spurred them on but according to Buster Olney of ESPN, they are feverishly working to make a deal that brings Jason Bay back into the Padre fold. He was a member of the organization for only a year before the Friars sent him to Pittsburgh in a deal for Brian Giles. Olney reports the two teams are deep in discussion of a multiplayer swap with names like Xavier Nady, Matt Morris, Nate McLouth and Michael Barrett attached as ballast. The Padres would also have to dip into their prospect well to get a deal done for Bay, which leads us to Chase Headley. The top prospect in the organization, Headley's a third baseman who demolished the Texas League and didn't embarrass himself during a cup of coffee in place of Kevin Kouzmanoff.
But, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, there's no chance of the Padres including Headley in the deal. They plan to move him to left so they can have him and Kouzmanoff in the lineup at the same time down the road.
Unless Neal Huntington wants to out-Dave Littlefield Dave Littlefield, though, the Pirates are going to have to get a prized jewel in return for Bay. If Headley isn't in the deal it's hard to see where they'd be getting one. With so many names flying through the air,and the desperate need the Pods have for outfielders, it wouldn't be surprising to see the two sides work out a deal.
If the deal came down to Barrett and a minor leaguer for Nady and/or McLouth as well as Morris, however, that would make a good deal of sense. Barrett could split time with Ronny Paulino and losing Morris' salary is addition by subtraction for the Bucs. Either outfielder, or both, would have an inside track at an Opening Day start at Petco and whatever Morris has left would be magnified by pitching in such a forgiving park.
