A.J. Preller has made no fewer than eight bountiful moves for starting pitchers
Dylan Cease pitches against the Brewers during the first inning of the Padres’ Jjune 21 game against Milwaukee at Petco Park. Between now and baseball’s summer trade deadline, A.J. Preller will devote considerable time to landing a number of starting pitchers.Never have so many pitchers been needed to win a World Series. Pitchers are breaking down more and often, all while being enticed to max out on velocity and spin.
The same month saw him deal another pitching prospect he inherited, Zach Eflin. That trade benefited the Dodgers and Phillies — but not the Padres. In order, they were the trades for big leaguers Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove leading into the 2021 season; the free-agent signings of big leaguers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha ahead of the 2023 season; and the additions of big leaguers King, Cease and Pérez to the 2024 team.
The trade for Darvish, in December 2020, is known to have angered Dodgers scouts. Preller likely learned Cubs ownership was feeling the pandemic crunch and was eager to move the 34-year-old Darvish’s contract.Another factor in Preller’s pitching gains: his hire of pitching coach Ruben Niebla in October 2021. And in later offseasons, the GM found another fruitful niche by adding a pair of former relievers, Lugo and King, who sought to become starters.
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