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5 San Diego Padres Who Must Be Dealt Before the 2015 Trade Deadline

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5 San Diego Padres Who Must Be Dealt Before the 2015 Trade Deadline

San Diego Padres
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After an active offseason, the 2015 regular season has not gone according to plan for the San Diego Padres. There is plenty of time to turn things around, but that will be difficult to do in such a competitive division. The Padres may have to become sellers at the deadline to help restock their farm system and get in position to compete again next season. Here are five players San Diego may look to trade this summer.

5. Clint Barmes

San Diego Padres v Seattle Mariners
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5. Clint Barmes

San Diego Padres v Seattle Mariners
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Barmes is having a decent season and has enough defensive versatility to appeal to a contending team looking to strengthen its bench. But Barmes doesn't have much of a future in San Diego, especially since he's a free agent after the season. He won't return a lot in a trade, but there's no sense in the Padres keeping him around the second half of the season if they're not in contention.

4. Joaquin Benoit

Joaquin Benoit
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4. Joaquin Benoit

Joaquin Benoit
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The Padres won't be moving closer Craig Kimbrel, but trading away Benoit would be a great move, as San Diego wouldn't have to pay the aging reliever $8 million if his vesting option is activated. With a 2.57 ERA and a wealth of experience, Benoit would be a great addition to a team looking for a seventh- or eighth-inning setup man. In a seller's market, Benoit could give the Padres something substantial in a potential trade.

3. Ian Kennedy

San Diego Padres v Seattle Mariners
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3. Ian Kennedy

San Diego Padres v Seattle Mariners
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Kennedy has had his issues this season, but he has enough of a track record to be a viable trade chip for a pitching-starved team at the deadline. The Padres can look to move Kennedy to save a little money and get a look at some of their younger pitchers, or perhaps open up a spot in the rotation for Cory Luebke, who's expected to return from Tommy John surgery later this summer.

2. Will Venable

Will Venable
Bobby Sieu - USATODAY Sports

2. Will Venable

Will Venable
Bobby Sieu - USATODAY Sports

Venable is in the midst of a solid season that has really improved his trade value, and since he's not under contract for next season, he's a prime trade candidate, especially since there won't be much room for him in the outfield when everyone's healthy. Trading Venable won't be a blockbuster, but he can be a difference maker for a playoff team and give the Padres something substantial in return.

1. Justin Upton

San Diego Padres
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1. Justin Upton

San Diego Padres
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Trading Upton is a must for the Padres if they're out of contention at the deadline. He's having a great season and would give San Diego an impressive return in a trade. Unless they're prepared to re-sign him, the Padres have to trade Upton in order to start re-building their farm system after depleting it last offseason with all of their trades.

Bryan Zarpentine is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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