The Padres might want to buy low on a cost-controlled outfielder and the Rays are listening.
The Tampa Bay Rays have discussed a trade involving outfielder Wil Myers with the San Diego Padres, according to SB Nation's Chris Cotillo.
The Rays have specifically asked about pitchers R.J. Alvarez, Burch Smith and Matt Wisler, per Cotillo. Some combination of those hurlers might make for a good return for Myers, the 2013 American League Rookie of the Year. Myers finished with a .293/.354/.478 line in his debut campaign but went through a sophomore slump in 2014, hitting just .222/.294/.320 in 361 plate appearances. He won't become a free agent until after the 2019 season.
All three hurlers Tampa Bay reportedly expressed interest in rank among the Padres' top 20 prospects, per MLB Pipeline. Wisler, the No. 2 prospect in the organization, posted a 4.42 ERA in 28 starts between Double-A and Triple-A in 2014.
The Rays have also asked about San Diego's top prospect, catcher Austin Hedges, reports ESPN's Jim Bowden. Hedges was the No. 18 overall prospect in baseball entering the 2014 season, according to Baseball Prospectus. The 24-year-old California native struggled at the plate, hitting .225/.268/.321, but is considered the best defensive catcher in the minors.