AJ Preller might've backed Padres ownership into corner with trade deadline showing

There were whispers prior to the MLB trade deadline that AJ Preller's future in San Diego was tied to the team's performance over the second half of the season. Judging by Preller's wheeling and dealing this past week, it's fair to say that those rumblings were accurate.

Preller didn't get the big fish (Garrett Crochet) that he was targeting, but the Padres' top executive was still able to reel in some solid additions that should help San Diego during the final two months of their 2024 campaign. Both Tanner Scott and Jason Adam figure to be crucial pieces of the Padres bullpen for the remainder of the season.

But was Preller looking to upgrade the Padres' roster at the deadline while also saving his own skin? Preller is always looking two moves ahead in terms of player/personnel moves, and one has to wonder if he had his own future in mind while executing his trade deadline strategy this past week.

AJ Preller might've cornered the Padres to keep him around with trade deadline performance

The Padres extended Preller's deal in 2021, and he's under contract through 2026. Pads fans cannot deny that things at Petco Park are much more entertaining since Preller took over the reins in 2014. During his time, the Friars have added (and later subtracted) Juan Soto, signed Manny Machado, traded aways a bevy of top prospects, and went to the NLCS in 2022, among many other moves.

But with all the money and resources San Diego has spent over the past decade, it's understandable that the Padres' ownership and their fans are anxious to see Preller's grand plan pay off. But you've got to ask yourself, after watching Preller sell off another round of top prospects, is there any executive better than him to salvage this thing if it goes south?

Preller has been in tough spots before, and the Padres are still relevant. San Diego has had a winning record in four of the past five seasons after spending the previous half-decade in fourth or fifth place in the NL West.

If the Padres collapse down the stretch and miss the postseason, it's quite possible that Preller will be cut loose. If the Friars make it deep into the postseason, Preller could be in line for another extension. It's that grey area of making the playoffs, but losing in the Wild Card Round that would raise questions about Preller's future in San Diego.

Preller made enough moves at the trade deadline to put the Friars in position to win. Now it's up to the team to go out and perform. But with so few assets remaining in the farm system, so much money on the books for the next five years, and so few executives likely to take on that type of job, Preller may have already solidified his standing as the Padres President of Baseball Operations for next season.

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