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San Diego's predicament stems from the necessity of reducing payroll while remaining competitive in the National League. Their big contracts to players like Xander Bogarts, Manny Machado, and Yu Darvish have left them in a delicate financial position. The Padres need to get creative with trades and have reportedly placed Cease and King on the market to free up salary for further roster moves or to acquire depth pieces that can assist in a playoff push.
The Mets possess enviable depth in their roster that they can leverage for a potential trade. Packages involving younger players such as Luis Auna, Jose Budo, or prospects could align well with the Padres' objectives, fulfilling their need for both immediate playing options and future development.