San Diego Padres: Where’s the Rock Star General Manager?

The lack of assets or other GMs sanctioning San Diego Padres General Manager A.J. Preller for the hidden medical records incident, the reality is that the Padres remain inactive.

The Winter Meetings just concluded with the San Diego Padres making only one minor trade, as they sent Josh VanMeter to the Cincinnati Reds in the trade in which they acquired Rule 5 pick Luis Torrens.

There were several rumors involving the Padres talking trade with the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Supposedly there was heavy interest in Yangervis Solarte, Travis Jankowski, their lefty relievers, and their second basemen. But nothing materialized, at least during the winter meetings.

Maybe the only positive note of the winter thus far is the selection of three prospects in the Rule 5 draft. But that is a big maybe, because the chances of them sticking with the big club are slim, unless Preller accepts surrendering three roster spots to low A players.

The reality is that the Padres don’t have many assets. Besides Wil Myers, prospects and Solarte to a lesser degree, there’s not much to offer.

In the winter of 2014, Preller traded Trea Turner, Joe Ross, Max Fried, Yasmani Grandal, Jake Bauers, Jesse Hahn, Jace Peterson, Mallex Smith, Matt Wisler, Matt Andriese, among others. That is why there’s not much to offer.

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It could also be that the other GMs are sanctioning him for the incident in which he hid medical records.

So, the team is going to field come opening day the same players that ended in last place. The starting rotation is minus Andrew Cashner, Edwin Jackson and Clayton Richard. The bullpen minus Fernando Rodney. Therefore, aspiring getting out of last place is a long shot.

After last year’s drafts and trades in which prospects were acquired, the idea, according to Preller, is that the team will compete in 2019. The problem is, each of these prospects signed in the international draft are at least five years away from the big leagues.

Next: Getting to Know Rule 5 Additions

The owners keep repeating that Preller is very clever and hard worker. But when he was given money and total control of baseball decisions, he failed big time.

After nearly three years in San Diego, where’s the “Rock Star GM”?