The 24-year old outfielder could be sent to San Diego in a deal that may include several top prospects.
San Diego left the Winter Meetings with Matt Kemp as one of its starting outfielders, but the club might be looking for more outfield depth. According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Rays and Padres are discussing a trade that would send Wil Myers to San Diego. The Rays could receive several prospects in a proposed deal.
If the Padres were able to acquire Myers, Rosenthal notes they would no longer be interested in pursuing Justin Upton. After adding Kemp, the Padres are still looking to add a bat to the middle of their lineup. The club is seeking consistent offensive production, and General Manager A.J. Preller had also considered adding Jay Bruce and Pablo Sandoval this offseason.
Myers, 24, was a key piece of the deal that sent James Shields to Kansas City. He batted .222/.294/.320 and drove in 35 runs in 87 games last season for the Rays. He is under club control for five more seasons, which likely made him more attractive than Upton, who will become a free agent after 2015. Although the 2013 American League Rookie of The Year established himself as a starting outfielder in Tampa, he struggled to remain healthy last season after breaking his wrist.
Despite the fact that Myers had difficulty bouncing back from the wrist injury last season, the Rays are expected to ask for top prospects in a deal that involves him. According to our Chris Cotillo, Tampa Bay is reportedly interested in Matt Wisler, Burch Smith, and R.J. Alvarez. ESPN's Jim Bowden notes San Diego catching prospect Austin Hedges could be on the Rays' radar, but that no deal is close.
Both sides are likely working on the return, and Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan is hearing there is "significant optimism" that a deal between the two teams involving Myers will get done. CBS Sports' Jon Heyman confirmed the report, noting that the deal "has a chance."