Trade for Jason Bartlett Almost Complete

The San Diego Padres are close to acquiring Tampa Bay Devil Ray SS Jason Bartlett in a trade that would send pitchers Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos to Tampa.

Bartlett was an All-Star just a couple of seasons ago and he has been mainly used as the number 1,2, or 9 hitter in his career. He has a career .281 batting average with 29 HRs and 242 RBI. His best season came a couple of seasons ago where he batted .320 with 14 HRs where he was an All-Star. GM Jed Hoyer is familiar with Bartlett, seeing him in multiple games during the AL East battles between Boston and Tampa Bay.

He will come into San Diego as the starting shortstop and probably bat at the top of the order. He has great speed and is aggressive on the base paths. The last few seasons he has been amongst the AL leaders in triples. He provides a solid glove in the infield, but still could lower his error count.

The left side of the infield is now complete with Chase Headley at 3B and Bartlett at SS. We will see what else the Padres will do this offseason for 1B and 2B. Derrek Lee and Lyle Overbay are strong possibilities for the starting 1B position. I am leaning on the Padres signing Overbay since the lineup is full of right handed hitters at this time, with the only lefties in the lineup, Headley and Venable. At 2B, the Padres have been rumored in a possible trade for STL 2B Brendan Ryan.

Bartlett also profiles as a Type-A free agent after 2011, which could net the Padres some draft picks if they decide to offer him arbitration and he signs elsewhere.