What do the Padres have in Cronenworth?
A solid player -- just not necessarily a first baseman. Which isn't to say Cronenworth hasn't been good defensively at first. He has. But consider his performance juxtaposed with the league averages:
League-average 1B (2023): .254/.331/.433, 108 wRC+
League-average 2B (2023): .252/.320/.397, 97 wRC+
Cronenworth, career (2020-23): .249/.331/.418, 109 wRC+
When he plays first base, Cronenworth is an average hitter who doesn't bring much defensive value. When he plays second, Cronenworth is an above-average hitter who was a Gold Glove finalist in his last full season there (2022).
So where should Cronenworth play?
Well, based on the current roster, first base is probably the right spot. At second, the Padres already have Ha-Seong Kim, the reigning utility Gold Glove Award winner and an even better defender than Cronenworth.
There might be a window early in the season -- if Manny Machado starts the year at DH while working his way back from elbow surgery -- where Kim could play third while Cronenworth plays second. But that's only temporary. And the Padres don't exactly have anyone to slot in at first base, if Cronenworth were to play elsewhere.
Does that mean a trade is likely?
There's been plenty of buzz about a potential deal involving Cronenworth -- or even Kim. In a vacuum, both are extremely useful players who the Padres should want to keep. But the puzzle pieces don't quite fit right now. Throw in the fact that the Padres have numerous holes elsewhere on their roster, and it starts to make sense why Cronenworth is on the trade block.
But the reality is: The Padres don't need to make a move. Right now, it feels slightly likelier that they keep both Cronenworth and Kim and settle for an infield surplus. (Considering the way injuries hit the infield last season, a surplus seems prudent.)