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The San Diego Padres continued their active trade deadline by acquiring first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn and outfielder Ramon Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles. In return, the Padres sent six of their 2024 draft picks to Baltimore: Boston Bateman, Cobb Hightower, Tyson Neighbors, Brandon Butterworth, Victor Figueroa, and Tanner Smith.
Padres Strengthen Their Lineup
Both O’Hearn and Laureano were expected trade pieces for the Orioles. O’Hearn is on a one-year deal worth $8 million, while Laureano earns $4 million this year with a team option of $6.5 million for 2026.
At the plate, both are having strong seasons. O’Hearn, 32, has become a reliable hitter since joining Baltimore from Kansas City. This season, he’s hitting .277/.342/.454, building on a 2023 breakout campaign. He’s improved his plate discipline significantly — boosting his walk rate to 11.6% this year while cutting strikeouts to just 14%.
While O’Hearn struggles against left-handed pitching, Laureano’s bat helps balance things out. The 31-year-old is having the best season of his career, batting .290/.355/.529 with 15 home runs in 290 plate appearances. He’s hit right-handers even better than lefties this year, slashing .305/.368/.563 in those matchups.
A New Look in the Field
Laureano is expected to become the Padres’ main left fielder. O’Hearn should split time between first base and designated hitter, likely starting against right-handed pitchers. With Luis Arraez also swinging from the left side, the Padres now have a pair of high-contact bats in key spots.
This move likely pushes Gavin Sheets to the bench, strengthening the depth of the lineup and limiting roles for Bryce Johnson and Trenton Brooks.
Defensively, Laureano has experience across the outfield, especially in the corners. His glove gives San Diego a much-needed boost in left field, where they’ve been average overall but inconsistent since Jason Heyward’s release. Sheets has been below average defensively, so Laureano’s presence should help tighten things up.
San Diego Planning for 2025
Laureano’s $6.5 million option for next year gives the Padres more than just a short-term upgrade. He could be the team’s right fielder in 2025 at a reasonable cost — something valuable for a team carrying large contracts for Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth, Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, and Nick Pivetta. The Padres already have $166 million committed to the 2025 payroll, not counting arbitration raises for Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, Freddy Fermin, and JP Sears.
Orioles Receive Six Prospects
In exchange, the Orioles picked up six prospects from the Padres’ 2024 draft class. The biggest name is Boston Bateman, a 6’8” lefty from California taken in the second round last year. He’s posted a 4.08 ERA in Class-A this season with a 25.8% strikeout rate and a fastball touching 96 mph. Baseball America ranks him sixth in the Padres’ system.
Third-rounder Cobb Hightower, a 20-year-old infielder, has hit .239/.363/.314 this year. He’s viewed as a bat-first prospect who may move off shortstop.
Tyson Neighbors, a 6’1” right-hander, has already reached Double-A. He owns a 1.85 ERA in 43.2 innings with a high strikeout rate (37.6%) but struggles with control. He’s considered a future bullpen arm and ranked 20th in the system by Baseball America.
Brandon Butterworth, a 12th-rounder from NC State, is hitting .267/.327/.455 in High-A with solid power and speed. He was not ranked among the Padres’ top 30 prospects.
Tanner Smith, a 15th-round pick from Harvard, has a 3.46 ERA in Low-A and the Complex League. The 6’6” righty has shown strikeout stuff but struggles with walks.
Victor Figueroa, an 18th-rounder, plays first base and corner outfield. He’s hitting .318/.420/.588 in the lower minors, though most of his success has come against younger players.
The trade gives the Padres two proven bats for their playoff push while giving the Orioles a handful of young talent to develop — another move in a busy deadline for both teams.
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