The Padres are charging into their weekend series at Petco Park against the Colorado Rockies with momentum, having gone 9-2 since the All-Star break. Most of these victories have come against teams in first place, demonstrating their strong late-season form. However, the main uncertainty for the team right now lies in their starting pitching rotation.
General manager A.J. Preller has expertly revamped the bullpen, turning it into one of the league’s best with some significant trades before the deadline. The only addition to the starting rotation was Martin Perez, who will make his debut for San Diego on Saturday night against the Rockies.
The team might be counting on the return of Joe Musgrove, who could be a game-changer. Musgrove, who has been sidelined for months due to a bone spur in his elbow, is showing considerable improvement.
“I’m throwing pretty freely right now and not feeling much hesitation in my delivery,” Musgrove said. “But I’m still cautious because it could flare up again at any moment.”
Before the MLB trade deadline, there were rumors that A.J. Preller’s future with the Padres depended on the team’s performance in the second half of the season. Given Preller’s recent trades, it seems these rumors were on point.
Although Preller didn’t secure the high-profile player he had hoped for (Garrett Crochet), he still managed to bring in valuable additions like Tanner Scott and Jason Adam, who are expected to be key contributors to the Padres’ bullpen for the rest of the season.
It’s worth considering whether Preller’s efforts to upgrade the Padres’ roster were also aimed at securing his own position. Known for his strategic approach to player transactions, it’s possible he was also keeping his future with the team in mind while executing his trade deadline plans.
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