According to Tim Sullivan of the Union-Tribune, the San Diego Padres are focused on adding a bat, and Houston Astros’ Lance Berkman or free agent Jermaine Dye could be targets to fill that role.

“We owe it to ourselves and to our fans,” said Mike Wickham, the Padres’ director of minor league operations. “We have to do something to give us a chance to score more runs, knowing our pitching is (probably) going to regress a little bit. And we don’t have to give away the farm to do it.”

Wickman adds, “We’re trying to get a small piece to really upgrade us at the top of the order or somewhere in the outfield. Whoever that is, it might make us better.”

Other options for the Padres include Raul Ibanez (Phillies), Jose Bautista (Blue Jays), Alex Gonzalez (Blue Jays), Austin Kearns (Indians) and David DeJesus (Royals).

The Padres were recently green-lighted the financial flexibility in order to improve the team by the trade deadline.