Could A.J. Preller and the Padres still be looking for a blockbuster move?

After missing out on Mookie Betts, could A.J. Preller and the San Diego Padres still be holding out hope for a blockbuster move this offseason?

It was definitely a gut punch for San Diego Padres fans on Tuesday night as we learned that Mookie Betts was being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

While I had been trying to warn everyone that it was going to happen, I think most of us were still holding onto hope that Preller could somehow create a miracle, which exactly what it would have taken for the Red Sox to pass up the Dodgers offer to take on David Price — something the Padres could not even consider doing.

But not long after, Padres fans started looking towards the next possible blockbuster deal.

And I’m here to crush your dreams again and tell you that’s not going to happen.

As I wrote earlier today, this is the team the Padres will go into the season with, and it’s time to accept the fact that Wil Myers will be a part of this team. I will gladly eat crow if I am wrong here.

Preller’s hands are really tied until he can trade off at least some of Myers’ contract, and Boston was the best chance of that happening.

I think it’s been the case for a while now that Preller can’t spend anymore money unless he gets rid of Myers.

Maybe I’m wrong in that assumption, and they would have had to take on at least a little money for 2020 had the Betts deal gone through, so perhaps there is a little bit of flexibility.

But not for the blockbuster moves everyone is hoping for.

The two names left that a lot of people are pivoting to are Kris Bryant and Francisco Lindor.

Neither the Cubs or the Indians would even entertain the idea of a trade that sent them Myers, and as I said several times during the Betts saga, I have no idea why the Red Sox were even considering it.

For Cleveland to trade the face of their franchise they’d be looking for a big prospect haul.

San Diego certainly has the prospects to get that done, but there is no way they make that trade without giving up at least one of MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams, or Luis Patino.

The same can pretty much be said for Bryant as both he and Lindor are under team control for two more seasons.

As I’ve been saying for some time now, it’s time to come to grips with the fact that this is the team we have, and it still has the potential to be a really good team.

And if they prove during the season that they can win, Preller will make a big move during the season to help out for 2020 and beyond.

I know it’s been a long time since the Padres even had a winning season, but now is not the time to make such short-sighted moves.

Enjoy the team that you see in front of you now, because for the most part it’s the team we will be rooting for once Opening Day comes around. And be upset if you want that the Dodgers got Betts, but I’m still really excited about the 2020 San Diego Padres.