MLB insider doubts Padres' A.J. Preller will have 'successful' trade deadline

The San Diego Padres are typically one of the more aggressive teams when it comes to making trades at the MLB trade deadline. A.J. Preller made a massive deal for Mason Miller that had fans and MLB insiders stunned last season.

This season, Preller and the Padres might need to work some magic, with the team in dire need of some offensive firepower and more starting rotation help.

But, MLB insider Robert Murray of Fansided.com doubts that, even though Preller will make the necessary trade calls to open talks, the Padres GM will be "successful" in his attempts to improve the team this season.

Padres' A.J. Preller doubted over 'successful' trade deadline maneuvers

"Much of their improvement needs to come internally. But you best believe A.J. Preller will be aggressive at the deadline," Murray writes. "... Will he call? Surely. Will he be successful? I doubt it."

This doubt from Murray came after linking the Padres to two potential trade targets in Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker.

While Murray is referencing those trades with his doubt about Preller at this year's deadline, the overall issues for the Padres would carry over to any such trade inquiry.

The Padres' farm system isn't that great, and with how badly Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts, and Fernando Tatis Jr. have struggled this year, it would not be a surprise if the Padres weren't the big spenders they were typically projected to be.

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This team has a chance to make the postseason still, even in a highly competitive NL Wild Card race. But their offense needs to be a lot better to right this ship, regardless of what Preller does at the trade deadline.

But if Murray's doubts about Preller's ability to pull off a trade this year come true, then the Padres might be in great trouble this year with a lackluster offense and very little way to improve such a struggling unit.

This doubt is not what Padres fans will like to hear from an MLB insider. But, with how shaky the season's been, and the uncertainty of the new ownership group and Preller's trades in recent years depleting the farm system, a quiet deadline is very possible.

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