Overview

• On July 31, GM A.J. Preller completed five trades involving 22 players with the Athletics, Blue Jays, Brewers, Orioles and Royals to address bullpen and lineup needs.
• Reliever Mason Miller’s 102-mph fastball has bolstered a bullpen that ranks first with a 2.05 ERA over the past six weeks.
• Since arriving in San Diego, Ramón Laureano has hit .327 with a 1.032 OPS, fueling an offense that averages 5.33 runs per game post-deadline.
• Despite questions over the rotation – including Michael King’s IL stint, Dylan Cease’s uneven outings and Yu Darvish’s lingering health issues – the Padres remain tied with the Dodgers atop the NL West.
• Preller has now traded with every MLB club since 2014 except the Arizona Diamondbacks, leaving division-rival negotiations as a storyline to watch this offseason.