The San Diego Padres nabbed one of the biggest names in MLB free agency with Manny Machado, but it looks like they are far from finished. It seems that they are looking to add more key personnel in the mix, and this could either be Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer.

Word of such comes from The Athletic claiming that the Padres are contemplating on a potential trade involving either player. And while there is interest, one thing hindering the deal is the asking price of both players. With the MBL season fast approaching, those numbers could get tweaked and push the deal into reality.

Speaking of the MLB opening, there is a chance that any deal involving either player may not go down in time. Hence, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic added that any deal is unlikely to happen before opening day. Should that be the case, it could materialize somewhere in the season, according to Bleacher Report.

So the question now is who between the two should the Padres zero in. On one end is Bauer, who is coming off an All-Star season. He was a key figure for the Cleveland Indians, owing to a 2.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 221 strikeouts in 175.1 innings. Since he entered the MLB back in 2012, the 28-year-old pitcher has never posted an ERA below 4.18 prior to the 2018 campaign.

Kluber, on the other hand, looms as a more logical target. The 32-year-old is a three-time All-Star and prides himself on winning the 2014 and 2017 American League Cy Young Awards. Last season, he had a 2.89 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 222 strikeouts – a big improvement from his 2017 performance.

While Kluber may be the more decorated pitcher, there is the age factor to consider. Investing on the right guy will need careful deliberation – another reason that backs up Rosenthal’s claim that any deal (if any) involving either player could take some time.

Corey Kluber
The San Diego Padres could be adding either Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer but only at a reasonable price. Starting pitcher Corey Kluber #28 of the Cleveland Indians pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Progressive Field on September 5, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. Getty Images/Ron Schwane

For now, it would be best to take this MLB trade rumor with a grain of salt. Bauer or Kluber could be big additions, but the price to get them into the mix is pivotal. For now, the Padres will have to get the most out of Machado, someone they invested heavily at $300 million for a 10-year period, MLB.com reported.

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