Report: Padres interested in Phillies' Franco

The San Diego Padres may be looking to enter trade season a month early.

The Padres are reportedly interested in acquiring Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco, sources tell Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

With Christian Villanueva struggling mightily after a hot April (.176/.229/.382 since May 1), the Friars would potentially be looking at an upgrade at the hot corner. Franco, after a promising start to his career, has been unreliable at the plate over the last couple seasons. In 64 games this year, he's hitting .255/.297/.425 with nine home runs in 229 plate appearances.

Franco is only 25 and isn't slated to become a free agent until 2022. Though he's struggled at times, Franco has shown an ability to hit the long ball with 72 homers in 450 games since 2015 and has an impressive ability to make consistent contact. Where most power hitters have elevated strikeout rates, Franco has punched out only 15.9 percent of the time over his career.

The biggest hitch for the Phillies is the hole Franco would leave on the left side of the infield if he were to be traded. With J.P. Crawford on the shelf with a fractured hand, Scott Kingery has been playing shortstop, leaving Franco as the primary third baseman.

If reports of the Phillies pursuing Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre prove to have weight, that deal could free them up to move Franco to the West Coast.