The San Diego Padres started the 2026 season looking like a team that might finally push past the Dodgers. Now they’re sitting at 52-53, third in the NL West, and the guy running the show sounds deflated.
According to a report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, rival executives who’ve talked to Padres president of baseball operations AJ Preller say he’s not his usual aggressive self heading into the August 3 trade deadline. One general manager put it bluntly: “When you talk to AJ, he just doesn’t sound the same.’”
That’s a telling quote for a front office that’s spent the last few years swinging big trades and signing massive contracts. The Padres have gone all-in repeatedly, but this season’s slide seems to have drained some of that energy. New ownership is pending, and league insiders don’t expect Preller to be ultra-aggressive this time around.
Mason Miller’s Dominance Drew a Crowd of Suitors
The biggest name drawing trade interest is closer Mason Miller. And for good reason. Through 41 appearances, Miller has a 0.84 ERA with 26 saves. That’s absurd. He’s been virtually unhittable, which is why the Brewers, Tigers, Yankees, Rays, Dodgers and Pirates have all been linked to him. Pittsburgh has extra motivation — Miller is from the area.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Despite all that interest, the Padres are now expected to keep Miller, at least according to the same rival executives who spoke to Nightengale. Instead, they might move starter Michael King, which is a significant pivot from where things stood a week ago.
The Padres’ rotation has been shaky, and the offense hasn’t helped. San Diego ranks 23rd in baseball in runs scored. You can have the best closer in the league, but if you’re not scoring or getting consistent starts, those saves don’t come often.
A Franchise at a Crossroads
The Padres have won five of their last 10 games, but they’re still chasing both the Dodgers and Diamondbacks in the division. That gap doesn’t look like it’s closing fast. The urgency that defined this franchise under Preller — the Juan Soto trade, the Xander Bogaerts signing, the relentless pursuit of stars — seems to have dimmed.
Sunday’s game against the Miami Marlins felt like just another game. But behind the scenes, the phone lines are open. The deadline is August 3. And for the first time in years, nobody really knows what Preller is going to do. Maybe not even him.
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