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The San Diego Padres entered the MLB Trade Deadline with multiple paths in front of them. Padres president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller has been aggressive at past deadlines, but he has had a more complete team. San Diego has struggled on offense throughout the year, but has been playing better recently and put Preller into a position where he had to make a choice. Buy additonal resources to help the 2026 team attempt to get into and make a run in the playoffs. Sell off players with expiring contracts to try to replenish one of the worst farm systems in the league. He had the option to do nothing and let the remainder of the season play out or he could have done a combination of buying and selling to make the 2026 team better, but also address future needs.
Rumors were flying throughout the game that teams like the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates would come after All-Star closer Mason Miller, who was acquired at the 2025 Trade Deadline from the Athletics, but Preller seemed reluctant to move the player that cost him Leodalis De Vries. Rumors about Miller began to fade as it became clearer he was not available, so Adrian Morejon became the desired target. Morejon made it clear he did not want to be dealt and Preller again made it known that any team seeking to add the dominant left-handed reliever would have to pay a high price. Michael King was also rumored to be a possible trade candidate as the only rotation piece with any value.
The Padres also had a position player who some teams might have found attractive in Ty France. The first baseman signed a minor league deal with San Diego in the offseason. He plays solid defense and is a former Gold Glove Award winner, but even more appealing is his offensive resurgence. France has found his power stroke and is tied for second on the team in homers with 16. He also has a .288 average and 49 RBI.
Preller decided not to move any of his MLB assets and instead added two of the top starting pitchers on the market in Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants and Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers. Gage Workman a left-handed utility player was also added in the trade with the Tigers. Preller and the Padres paid a price for their additions. Former first-round pick pitcher Kash Mayfield, 17-year-old shortstop Joniel Hernandez, pitcher Miguel Mendez and pitcher Jackson Wolf were all used as currency to make the deadline additions.
Mize made his first start for the Padres against the Arizona Diamondbacks and had a horrible night. He allowed eight runs on nine hits in three-plus innings, but by all accounts, that performance was an anomaly and not the norm from Mize. Workman chipped in with a three-run double in the loss on Wednesday, which was his first hit with San Diego. Padres fans will get their first look at their other new pitcher when San Diego returns to Petco Park to host the Houston Astros. The Friar Faithful will be looking for a similar result to the last time Ray took the mound at Petco when he completed six innings and allowed one run on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts as a member of the Giants.
Now that the deadline has come and gone and decisions have been made, Gaslamp Ball would like to know what you, the readers, think about the performance of Preller and the Padres at the deadline. Results will be post later in the week.
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