Overview

• On July 31, Preller executed five trades involving 22 players, headlined by moving MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 prospect Leo De Vries to the Oakland Athletics.
• The centerpiece deal brought flamethrower Mason Miller to San Diego; he touches 103 mph, is under team control through 2029 and could be converted back into a starter.
• Preller also added lefty JP Sears, outfielder Ramon Laureano, first baseman/designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn, left-hander Nestor Cortes and catcher Freddy Fermin.
• Rival executives said Preller treated the market like an auction by keeping multiple teams on the hook to drive up De Vries’s price, a tactic that drew widespread frustration.
• Since joining the Padres in 2014, he has repeatedly traded high-profile prospects such as Max Fried, MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams in pursuit of immediate competitiveness.