A.J. Preller's trade-filled winter almost had another piece to it. The San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks talked during spring training about a trade for outfielder Ender Inciarte and second baseman Aaron Hill, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
The interest for Inciarte is apparently back, as Preller and the Padres recently inquired on him again. And it's no surprise that teams would want the 24-year-old outfielder.
In 277 plate appearances this season, Inciarte has hit .287 with a .315 on-base percentage with two home runs and 22 RBI's. What may be a surprise is that the Padres were interested in the spring. They had just brought in Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers. That doesn't include Will Venable who was already on the roster or Melvin Upton, who they got right before the season began.
The Padres haven't lived up to expectations, and that has made some players expendable. Justin Upton and Will Venable are two names that have come up. If the Padres are able to move those two guys while also bringing in Inciarte, it would be a move for the present and future.
That would leave them with Kemp and Myers in the starting outfield. Inciarte would give them a young option to go to if Kemp's health fails him again or if they want to plug him in as the third outfielder. It's unclear what it would take to get him, or if the D-Backs are willing to part with the young outfielder. But Preller has surprised us before, he could do it again.