Playing well above the .500 mark, the San Diego Padres find themselves in the middle of a highly-contested National League West division race.

As we head into June, the July 31 trade deadline is just a little over two months away. The Friar Faithful knows full well that there is always room for improvement. It seems like a timeless tradition to identify the Padres’ potential needs at the deadline.

The offensive production from the left field platoon has been a major disappointment. Brandon Lockridge and Jason Heyward have combined to hit .184 with 2 HR and 16 RBI. Each has failed to hit with runners in scoring position.

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The Padres’ recent struggles with scoring runs could have been different had Lockridge and Heyward been able to capitalize in these situations. A sacrifice fly or a productive out that advances a runner 90 feet is better than striking out. The lineup is designed to create traffic on the basepaths, but the bottom third of the order has struggled to pass the baton back to the top of the order.

The Friars have been searching for a new left fielder since Jurickson Profar left the organization via free agency last winter. The situation has become so drastic that Gavin Sheets is now playing the position. He looked decent, but his limited defensive range might become a concern as the season progresses.

The lack of production cannot continue much longer. Acquiring another productive outfield bat should be Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller’s top priority at the trade deadline.

You can set your watch to it, as Preller will add a pitcher to the starting rotation or bullpen at the trade deadline. Typically, pitching is a major need for all contending teams each summer. Preller understands the Friars have gone through most of their pitching depth during the first two months of the season.

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Injuries have decimated the starting rotation, so it is not surprising that Preller may acquire another starter. Michael King (shoulder), Yu Darvish (elbow inflammation), and Joe Musgrove (Tommy John) are on the injury list. King and Darvish are expected back at some point this summer, and Stephen Kolak has done a terrific job filling the fifth spot in the Padres’ rotation after Kyle Hart failed to seize the opportunity earlier this season.

While already boasting a strong bullpen, Preller will seek to add more depth to maintain their dominance in closing out games. He will look to bolster the pen by acquiring an experienced arm or a young, controllable prospect who can handle the demands of pursuing a postseason berth. Securing a reliable reliever will help in the late innings to support a strong outing from that day’s starter.

The Friar Faithful must trust the process and be confident that Preller can identify the holes on the roster. The unknown factor is the quality of talent available on the trade market.

But it is a guarantee the Padres will have replacement options in place at the deadline.

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