Jackson Merrill didn’t need much time to explain how he feels about James Wood’s rise in Washington.
“I just miss him. He’s an awesome dude," Merrill told The San Diego Union-Tribune.
That friendship now comes with a sting for the Padres. Wood, one of the prospects shipped to the Nationals in the Juan Soto trade, has turned into exactly the kind of power bat San Diego could use right now. The Washington right fielder already has 26 home runs, which ranks sixth in Major League Baseball, and his .962 OPS is second-best in the National League.
San Diego, by contrast, has been starving for impact offense. The Padres own the second-lowest slugging percentage in baseball at .372 and have hit only 98 home runs as a team, the ninth-fewest in the league.
Merrill and Wood go way back. The two were friends as teenagers on the travel-ball circuit after growing up in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area, and they later became teammates in 2021 when the Padres took Merrill with the 27th overall pick and Woods with the 62nd.
By August 2022, Woods was with Single-A Lake Elsinore before being included in the Soto deal that sent him to Washington.
“It’s cool to see him from time to time,” Merrill said about the Padres and Nationals' two yearly series. “Obviously, I wish we were still on the same team. He’d be a huge problem on our team."
That last line hits because the Padres are dealing with plenty of problems already. They’re 5-10 in their last 15 games and sliding out of contention for a playoff spot.
The offense has been rough across the board. San Diego ranks dead last in MLB in team batting average and on-base percentage, and injuries in the starting rotation have only made things worse. The Padres also have the second-fewest quality starts of any team in baseball.
Still, Merrill said the group is trying to push through the skid.
"Yeah, I mean we're frustrated too. Can't take away from your frustration, but I promise we are doing all we can here to get these wins," Merrill said.
"Like I said, just have faith in us. It's baseball; you never know when s--- can go the other way, so we could heat up here really soon."
In Other News...
Padres Suddenly Tied To The Biggest Trade Names On The Market
With the trade deadline drawing closer, the Padres are once again being linked to some of the biggest names on the market, a familiar spot for a front office led by AJ Preller. ESPN insiders have floated San Diego as a possible landing place for a wide range of players, and the buzz fits the clubs usual posture of staying active when there is a chance to upgrade for a postseason push.
The Twins Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan are among the most notable names tied to San Diego, which is enough to signal the kind of move the Padres are at least exploring. Whether Preller actually pulls the trigger is another matter, but the idea of the Padres circling premium talent this early is a reminder that they could be one of the more aggressive buyers before the deadline arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Just Sent A Frustrating Message With This Roster Decision
The Padres moved on from Pablo Reyes last week, releasing the utility player after he had put together a strong run at Triple-A El Paso. It did not take long for another club to pounce, with the Angels signing Reyes to a minor league contract and sending him to Triple-A Salt Lake, a quick reminder that even fringe roster decisions can carry real value for teams looking for depth.
San Diego, meanwhile, chose a different path and signed Luis Rengifo to a minor league deal instead. Rengifo has been swinging it well at Triple-A, and the Padres are clearly hoping that form translates if they need help in the near term, but the swap still leaves Reyes as the more curious departure for a club trying to manage every bit of roster flexibility it can find. [Read more 🡒]