Dodgers need to be worried about Padres ahead of MLB trade deadline

The NL West arms race will undoubtedly be the main event for baseball viewers over the second half of the season.

The stacked division features the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the current MLB-best San Francisco Giants, and the upstart San Diego Padres, who have probably made the most headlines in the league since the start of last year.

What’s even more mind-blowing?

All of these teams are likely going to get better within the next couple of weeks as the July 31 trade deadline fast approaches.

The Dodgers will certainly be involved in the proceedings, but fans need to realize the Padres are a serious threat to upend their plans.

San Diego’s GM AJ Preller is the definition of a wheeler-and-dealer who isn’t afraid to take risks … and is also tremendous at evaluating under-the-radar talent.

The Dodgers and Andrew Friedman should be concerned about the Padres.

Shall we go through the list of players Preller acquired via trade for the Pads? It’s quite large.

• Yu Darvish
• Blake Snell
• Joe Musgrove
• Austin Nola
• Victor Caratini
• Jake Cronenworth
• Fernando Tatis Jr.
• Tommy Pham
• Trent Grisham
• Wil Myers
• Jorge Mateo
• Emilio Pagan

Unbelievable. Now, what’s even more alarming is the fact the Padres will be looking for similar upgrades ahead of July 31. They also need starting pitching, bullpen help and a slugger who’s versatile on the defensive side of the ball.

That could throw a wrench in the Dodgers’ plans considering Preller was previously the assistant general manager of the Texas Rangers for years prior to joining the Pads. According to the latest rumors, San Diego is expressing interest in Rangers slugger Joey Gallo, but perhaps Preller orchestrates a bigger package involving starter Kyle Gibson and/or closer Ian Kennedy … all of whom have been loosely connected to the Dodgers via speculation.

The Padres’ deadline shopping could realistically be finished with one momentous blockbuster move given their needs as well as Preller’s well-timed connection to the Rangers.

As for the Dodgers, Friedman is the undisputed top executive in the league, but it’s clear Preller is coming for his crown after all the work he’s accomplished since joining the team at the end of the 2014 season, even though the Padres didn’t burst onto the scene until 2020.

Nonetheless, Preller’s body of work is all finally coming together, and the Dodgers need to stop him from putting an exclamation point on it once August arrives.

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