CINCINNATI (AP) — when they placed right-hander Trevor Bauer on the 10-day disabled list with a small stress fracture in his right leg.Cleveland is in complete control in the AL Central http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-pat-neshek-jersey , leading second-place Minnesota by 12 1/2 games coming into the day. But any lingering issue with Bauer could hurt its chances of advancing in the playoffs.Bauer was struck by Jose Abreu’s liner in the seventh inning of Saturday night’s 3-1 win at the Chicago White Sox. He returned to Cleveland after experiencing soreness and swelling, and an MRI revealed the injury.Bauer is one of the top candidates for the AL Cy Young Award. The 27-year-old right-hander is 12-6 with a 2.22 ERA in 25 starts. This is his first career DL stint.“Knowing Trev, he’ll keep his arm in shape and he’ll be raring to go whenever he’s ready,” Indians manager Terry Francona said before their game against Cincinnati. “There’s never a good time. But he’ll keep his arm good and strong.”Left-hander Tyler Olson was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to take Bauer’s roster spot. Right-hander Adam Plutko will make his seventh start of the season in place of Bauer on Saturday.Plutko is 4-2 with a 4.75 ERA in nine appearances.Francona said right-hander Josh Tomlin is another candidate to be inserted into the rotation, but would need to be stretched out. Tomlin could return this week from a hamstring strain.Francona said he texted with Bauer on Tuesday afternoon.“He said he was sorry,” Francona said, laughing. “You feel for him. He has put himself in such a good place.”Bauer leads the AL with 166 innings pitched while ranking second with 214 strikeouts and third in ERA. The Machado-Harper rumors have mostly centered on perennial big spenders (the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees) and up-and-coming clubs with payroll to burn (the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies). The Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs also seem like plausible landing spots for Harper.You could toss in every other contender Richie Ashburn Jersey , at least in theory. But the Padres? Come on.We're talking about a franchise that hasn't enjoyed a winning season since 2010 and hasn't qualified for the postseason since 2006. In no way do the Padres sound like players for the winter's glitziest stars.But in a world where a pair of superstars entering their age-26 seasons are languishing unsigned in late January, anything is possible.Consider: Last offseason, the Padres signed first baseman Eric Hosmer to an eight-year, $144 million contract. It didn't work out especially well, as Hosmer underperformed on offense and defense and postedminus-0.1 WAR, according to FanGraphs' calculation.San Diego might be hesitant to make more big-money investments. On the other hand, it plays in a relatively soft division and could be ready for a dramatic move.The Dodgers are the toast of the National League West on the heels of two consecutive National League pennants Chuck Klein Jersey , but they haven't made any seismic signings this winter after extending ace Clayton Kershaw.The Colorado Rockies are looking to build on two straight wild-card berths but haven't noticeably bolstered their roster.The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants are stuck between rebuilding and retooling and don't figure to be especially dangerous.That leaves an opening for the Padres to blossom ahead of schedule behind a farm system Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter ranked No. 1 in baseball. Take burgeoning studs such as infielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and left-hander MacKenzie Gore, add an established star, and stir.Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesInking Harper or Machado wouldn't make the Padres champions overnight. Guys like Tatis and Gore are likely a year or more away. San Diego needs to allow its young players to mature before they can contribute.But in this slow-developing free-agent market, the Friars could swoop in and change the game uite literally.As recently as 2015, Padres general manager A.J. Preller added expensive players such as Craig Kimbrel and Matt Kemp in the hopes of contending. Once that blueprint fizzled, San Diego went lean at the big league level while adding MiLB chips.Is this the moment to go all-in?It might be, after the Padres refinanced their debt and opened up the option of looser purse strings Jimmy Foxx Jersey , as Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.The Padres are an under-the-radar outfit. They don't boast a long history of winning (two pennants and zero titles) nor do they play in a big-time market.That said, the weather in San Diego is amazing, and any player who signed there could put the franchise on the map. Imagine, for example, helping the Yankees win championship No. 28 versus helping the Padres win championship No. 1.There's glory in both, but hoisting the first Commissioner's Trophy in Padres history would arguably be more notable.Patrick McDermott/Getty ImagesHarper seems destined for a massive market with his brash personality and "make baseball fun again" antics. Machado, likewise http://www.philliesfanproshop.com/authentic-pat-neshek-jersey , ought to play for a club with title aspirations.Harper has compiled30.7 WARnext to Machado's30.2as a big leaguer, per FanGraphs. Even if you don't adore wins above replacement as a stat, that's undeniably good.The Padres aren't the favorites to sign either or both stars, but San Diego's credible entrance into the Harper-Machado sweepstakes injects an alluring who-can-say curveball.Will the Pads ink one or both of the best available free agents?Maybe not. But...maybe? All statistics courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball Reference.