Padres closing in on Wil Myers

ByJERRY CRASNICK
December 17, 2014, 12:15 PM

— -- The San Diego Padres are closing in on a trade to acquire outfielder Wil Myers from the Tampa Bay Rays, two baseball sources confirmed to ESPN.com.

A third source with direct knowledge of the discussions said the clubs are still "working through some things" and could have something to announce later Wednesday.

The Padres will send minor league first baseman Jake Bauers, right-handers Joe Ross and Burch Smith and two other players to Tampa Bay once the deal is concluded, a source told ESPN Insider Jim Bowden.

One industry source said the Rays might be working on an additional trade involving a piece or pieces they receive from the Padres. Several media outlets have reported that the Washington Nationals are involved in the conversations.

The Padres agreed to a deal for Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers last week, and Myers would give an additional boost to a San Diego offense that ranked last in the majors with 535 runs scored and a .634 OPS in 2014.

Myers, 24, was a third-round pick by Kansas City in the 2009 first-year player draft. After he finished second in the minor leagues to Philadelphia's Darin Ruf with 37 home runs in 2012, the Royals sent him to Tampa Bay as part of a seven-player trade that brought pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis to Kansas City.

Myers hit .293 with 13 homers in 88 games in winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2013. He was limited to 87 games because of a fractured right wrist in 2014 and hit only .222 with six homers and a .614 OPS in 325 at-bats.

A.J. Preller, San Diego's new general manager, has been aggressive this offseason. The Padres fell short in free-agent pursuits of Pablo Sandoval and Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas before focusing their attention on trades.