Recent MLB trades could give Padres insight into possible Jake Cronenworth value

The San Diego Padres are at a crossroads in this year’s off-season. After losing out on the biggest international signing of the year Roki Sasaki, the Padres are poised to move on in their hunt for new additions to the squad. With multiple Padres players on the receiving end of trade predictions and rumors for a majority of the off-season, fans have been gearing up for what could be a number of key players headed for the door.

One of those players who has been subject to trade rumors is Jake Cronenworth. Although not receiving the same media attention as Luis Arraez or Dylan Cease who have had much more concrete trade talks, Cronenworth’s future in San Diego could be up in the air as the Padres look to shed some of their very expensive payroll. What exactly the Padres could see out of a Cronenworth trade is not set in stone, but a number of trades that have taken place this off-season could provide some insight into what the Padres could expect.

Number of infield trades could spark hope for Padres

Andres Gimenez

Early in the off-season, the Cleveland Guardians traded their Gold Glove winning second baseman Andres Gimenez to the Toronto Blue Jays for two players, one of which they immediately traded away. Gimenez, who is highly regarded for his defensive skills, brought the Guardians infielder Spencer Horwitz and outfielder Nick Mitchell, who was then traded away to the Pirates for three pitchers.

Cronenworth and Gimenez had very similar stats at the plate in 2024, although Gimenez had a higher batting average but lower OPS than Cronenworth. One concerning mark for Gimenez was his OBP, which was below the .300 mark for the first time in his career. However even with a relatively down year at the plate for Gimenez, his defensive skills were still able to garner a nice return for Cleveland, something that San Diego would need to bank on with Cronenworth. A trade package for Cronenworth similar to Gimenez’s could free up salary space while addressing the Padres issues in the infield or outfield.

Jonathan India

If the Padres were to look for a solution to their pitching conundrum on the trade market, looking at the Royals trade for Jonathan India may be the benchmark. After winning the rookie of the year in 2021, India was a mainstay in the Reds infield for four years before being dealt to the Royals. In the trade that took place in November, the Reds sent India and outfielder Joey Wiemer for veteran right handed pitcher Brady Singer. Singer, who had been a member of the Royals since 2020, has put up decent numbers with high innings pitched, although a career 4.28 ERA could be of concern.

With the Padres looking for arms to fill a depleted starting rotation, a Cronenworth trade could be needed to find a suitable arm. After losing out on Roki Sasaki and with the futures of Michael King and Dylan Cease still up in the air, trading Cronenworth for a mid-level starter could be a short term solution, while also freeing up salary space.

The biggest factor in determining Cronenworth’s future is the contract. After signing a seven-year, $80 million contract in 2023, the Padres were hoping Cronenworth would continue his All-Star worthy performances. However, that contract could now be seen as an overpay as Cronenworth has seen his numbers at the plate drop significantly in the past two seasons.