A.J. Preller\u2019s creativity could come come into play again as Padres approach trade deadline<\/a><\/p>\nWhile FanGraphs.com gives the Padres a slender 15% chance to clinch a wild-card berth, I make Preller a prohibitive favorite to keep the whole industry on its toes ahead of the trade deadline.<\/p>\n
Until the trade deadline passes, no one in MLB disregards the Rock Star GM.<\/p>\n
Padres acquisition Matt Kemp hung that nickname on Preller a decade ago amid the rookie general manager\u2019s flurry of moves that rocked the industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never know with A.J.,\u201d is a phrase commonly uttered by scouts with other MLB teams and the beat reporters attempting to read the trade market.<\/p>\n
Even Padres veteran players say they don\u2019t trust their ability to forecast Preller\u2019s move, regardless of the trade market dynamics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s A.J. \u2014 who knows?\u201d Fernando Tatis Jr. said on July 12 as the Padres, then 48-48, went into the All-Star break.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, the owner is a big part of it here,\u201d Tatis added.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut,\u201d he reaffirmed, \u201cit\u2019s A.J. \u2014 anything can be in play.\u201d He laughed and added: \u201cProbably even me. No, I\u2019m kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SUT-L-padres-0427-002.jpg\")
San Diego Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller talks on the phone in the outfield before Game 2 of the MLB World Tour Mexico City Series at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium on Sunday, April 26, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Meg McLaughlin \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)<\/p>\n
A debate can be had on whether Preller has been too trade-happy across his 12-year tenure, but that analysis shouldn\u2019t be limited entirely to the team\u2019s win-loss records, swoons and successes.<\/p>\n
Preller\u2019s zealous exploration of the art of the possible, supported often by aggressive spending, has boosted local and national interest in the Padres.<\/p>\n
While a more conservative approach could\u2019ve also succeeded on the field and at the gate, it\u2019s clear that the Padres have attained consistent relevance in San Diego County and nationally. The small-market club has finished third, fifth, second, third and second in attendance since 2021; this season, the Padres trail only the Dodgers at the gate.<\/p>\n
Another benefit to Preller\u2019s hyperactive explorations in the trade market is this: The Padres\u2019 front office has gathered more baseball intel on other teams in a decade-plus than other, more passive clubs.<\/p>\n
In the spirit of the art of the possible, let\u2019s assume the Padres avoid a face-plant on the field this week, that Preller truly expects pitchers Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove or both to return to competitive form this summer, and that he in fact decides to try to improve this team.<\/p>\n
Again, I doubt it would be a great idea to trade Ethan Salas, 20. The Padres\u2019 top prospect, Salas has a decent chance to become both a hitter and a catcher who\u2019s league-average or better. Patience will be needed, but few MLB catchers meet those twin standards.<\/p>\n
![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/LDN-L-DODGERS-0706-KB60.jpg\")
Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning during a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News\/ SCNG)<\/p>\n
Worth considering, even if it\u2019s an out-there scenario, is this move: effectively buy Astros closer Josh Hader.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a long shot. Hader is guaranteed $19 million each of the next three years, holds no-trade powers and exited the Padres three years ago on not the best of terms.<\/p>\n
How could the art of the possible crystallize in a Hader trade? New Padres ownership approves such an expense, concluding it\u2019s better to improve the team by adding payroll than by trading Salas.<\/p>\n
The Padres would have to give up minor league talent, but, in addition to retaining Salas, they\u2019d add a top-tier closer.<\/p>\n
A trio of Mason Miller, Adrian Morej\u00f3n and Hader could shorten games against any team.<\/p>\n
Other additions would be needed if Preller, the wild card of wild cards, indeed chooses to bolster a push for the club\u2019s fourth wild-card berth in five years.<\/p>\n
But such additions should be confined to change-of-scenery bargain pursuits. In recent years, Preller added veteran starting pitcher Mart\u00edn P\u00e9rez for a rookie-ball fringe prospect and second baseman Luis Arraez and well-regarded reliever Jason Adam in separate deals for mid-tier prospects when the farm system was more well-regarded.<\/p>\n
The art of the possible works both ways, meaning Preller should find out what Miller, Ty France, Morej\u00f3n and others could bring in trade if the Padres were to drop numerous games this week.<\/p>\n
A decade ago, the young GM sold starting pitcher James Shields to the credulous White Sox.<\/p>\n
The return: a 17-year-old minor leaguer named Tatis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Peter Seidler often spoke of exploring \u201cthe art of the possible.\u201d OK, I\u2019ll bite. Is it possible that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":414725,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[181,1334,74,76,75,2611,127],"class_list":["post-414724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-diego","tag-latest-headlines","tag-mlb","tag-san-diego","tag-san-diego-headlines","tag-san-diego-news","tag-san-diego-padres","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/414724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=414724"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/414724\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/414725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=414724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=414724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=414724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}