The Padres made themselves a lot more dangerous at the trade deadline, and that’s the part AJ Preller wants to talk about.
San Diego’s president of baseball operations spent deadline day trying to push his club deeper into the National League race, and the moves mattered. The Padres have shaken off their slow start and are now squarely in the wild-card hunt, even if the NL West still looks like a steep climb. They trail the rival Dodgers by 10 games, and the gap only got wider when Los Angeles landed Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers to add yet another All-Star arm to an already loaded rotation.
So when Preller was asked on a conference call with reporters whether the Dodgers are ruining baseball, he didn’t bite.
"You kind of expect that a lot of teams in our division, especially the Dodgers, are going to improve every single year. Personally, when you have great teams and you have great players, it just raises the bar of other people and other players and other teams," Preller said to reporters on a conference call after the trade deadline.
"Our focus is on what we need to do to get better with our group and our team. But when you've got a really competitive division or team, that definitely can help raise the bar of what it looks like."
That’s the lens Preller is working through: not complaining about the power structure in the division, but trying to build the Padres into something that can stand next to it. The Dodgers have been adding stars nearly every year, yet San Diego has shown it can at least keep pace in the broader picture.
These two clubs have already met in the postseason three times since 2020, with Los Angeles winning two of those series. The Padres got their own shot in 2022, knocking out the Dodgers on the way to the NL Championship Series.
Preller knows the rivalry. He also knows the assignment.
The goal right now is simply to get into October, because once the Padres are there, they believe anything can happen. And if a playoff rematch with the reigning two-time World Series champions is waiting down the road, San Diego feels it can handle the matchup.
In Other News...
Dodgers Prospects Are Forcing The Organization To Pay Attention
The Dodgers farm system had one of those lopsided nights that makes you stop and scan the box scores a second time. Two affiliates piled up 12 runs or more while two others were held to three or fewer, a snapshot of how uneven minor league baseball can be from day to day. For the Great Lakes Loons, Charles Davalan was the most productive bat in the lineup with a three-hit performance, giving the organization another reminder that there is no shortage of players trying to make a case at every level.
There was also movement on the pitching side, with Bobby Miller returning to the mound for Oklahoma City as part of a rehab assignment, and the Tower Buzzers activating Cam Leiter off the injured list. For a club that keeps a close eye on its pipeline, these are the kinds of updates that matter just as much as the final scores. The numbers from the affiliates tell part of the story, but the more interesting thread is how many of these young players are pushing for attention at a time when the Dodgers can least afford to ignore what is happening below them. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Suddenly Have A Dalton Rushing Question They Didn't Expect
Dalton Rushings rise through the Dodgers organization has hit an unexpected pause after an MRI revealed a slight tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow. Manager Dave Roberts said Rushing will rest his throwing for four to six weeks, and while a return to catching this season remains possible, it is looking more and more like a long shot for a player the club has been trying to keep in the mix behind the plate.
The Dodgers have already responded by reshaping the catching picture, bringing in Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia to help cover the position while Will Smith works his way back. Rortvedt is now handling the bulk of the catching duties, but Rushings status leaves the bigger question hanging over the group: how the team will manage the position if his elbow does not respond the way they hope. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Rotation Suddenly Has One More Late-Season Variable
Gavin Stone is finally nearing game action again, which gives the Dodgers another late-season arm to monitor as they try to keep their rotation and bullpen intact for the stretch run. The right-hander, who was expected to be part of the clubs starting plans before shoulder surgery wiped out his 2025 season, is close enough now to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City and start building back toward meaningful innings.
For a team that has already spent much of the year managing pitching injuries, Stones progress matters well beyond the minor league box scores. If he keeps moving forward, he could factor back into the conversation in September, when every healthy starter and swingman becomes useful depth for a club trying to line up its staff for October. [Read more 🡒]