AJ Preller's annual trade deadline gutting of Padres' farm system even crazier than usual

Do the San Diego Padres have a farm system anymore? One day after the 2025 MLB trade deadline, the Friars' once-long list of top prospects looks... ripped to shreds.

Padres President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller was one of the busiest men in the sport this week, acquiring a boatload of players to ignite a postseason push. Preller wants to win now, and he made that clear after adding Mason Miller, JP Sears, Ramon Laureano, Ryan O'Hearn, Nestor Cortes, Will Wagner, and Freddy Fermin via trade.

But what about the prospects? Preller, famous for giving away San Diego's best future talent, surely outdid himself in this department. As part of the chaotic trade deadline, he sent away five of the Padres top seven prospects, as well as three borderline MLB-ready pitchers.

AJ Preller trades away Leo De Vries, Braden Nett among other top prospects

Leo De Vries is baseball's No. 3 overall prospect, but he is in the Athletics' hands now. Braden Nett and Boston Bateman were proving themselves to enter the MLB Top 100 soon, too, but the Padres will never see the fruit of their labors in developing these guys.

A huge sting is losing Henry Baez, who was the organization's best minor league pitcher a year ago, and Tyson Neighbors, who has been unhittable out of the bullpen.

Preller is well-aware of the moves he made. He knows that it is difficult to let so many great prospects loose, but that is the price to pay to contend right now for a World Series.

Will we see these prospects turn into future MLB All-Stars? It's likely, and it will be painful. Let's not forget some of the other top prospects the Padres had, who are now All-Stars (or on the cusp of becoming one):

• Trea Turner

• Max Fried

• James Wood

• MacKenzie Gore

• CJ Abrams

• Josh Naylor

• Luis Castillo

• Brent Rooker

Giving away these premier players via trade has yet to turn into a San Diego World Series. Hopefully Preller's latest sweeping of Friars top prospects doesn't follow suit.