No one can accuse the San Diego Padres and their General Manager AJ Preller of being boring. Preller and the Padres completed multiple trades and improved a playoff-positioned roster by adding to areas of need and areas of strength through multiple moves on deadline day.
Preller made the first shocking trade of the day by striking a deal with the Sacramento A’s that saw the additions of closer Mason Miller and starter JP Sears. This trade came as a surprise to several MLB pundits and seemed to signal
the end of the road in San Diego for current closer Robert Suarez. However, Preller held onto Suarez and added another hard throwing arm to the Padres’ bullpen, which is already considered to be one of the best in the game.
Mason Miller ➡️ Padres
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 31, 2025
JP Sears ➡️ Padres
Leo De Vries (MLB's No. 3 prospect) ➡️ Athletics#MLBCentral weighs in on the reported blockbuster trade that will send Mason Miller to San Diego. https://t.co/3dL7qDskOf pic.twitter.com/neNIUB0a8E
This type of addition is nothing new to San Diego fans, but that does not mean it was not surprising. Preller added Tanner Scott and Jason Adam at the trade deadline a year ago and formed what was thought to be the most dominant back end of the bullpen in the league with Adam, Scott and Suarez deployed to shorten games down the final stretch of the 2024 season. He made the same type of move this season, adding Miller to the likes of Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada, Adam and Suarez.
"If you got a heavy, strong bullpen that can go multiple innings, like the Padres have, you're in pretty good shape right now..."@YonderalonsoU, Matty V, Jake Peavy and Rick Hahn discuss San Diego's strong position as the Trade Deadline nears. pic.twitter.com/Q65hrJxfoI
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 31, 2025
The addition of Sears, like Miller, appeared to mean Preller and the Padres were seriously considering moving front-end starter Dylan Cease, who is pitching in his walk year. Sears, like Cease, has proven to be a durable innings-eater and by adding him, San Diego could part with Cease and improve the roster elsewhere with the return. Again, Preller held onto the potential trade piece and strengthened a rotation that expects the return of Michael King in the near future.
Preller went on to add catcher Freddy Fermin, pitcher Nestor Cortes, shortstop Jorge Quintana and infielder Will Wagner in additional deals as the day progressed. Perhaps the most impactful addition for San Diego came when Preller picked up 2025 All-Star Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano from the Baltimore Orioles. O’Hearn is “the bat” the Friar Faithful had been clamoring for leading into the deadline. He is expected to provide some much-needed pop and will help to lengthen the lineup. Laureano is a player who fills the outfield need in left field that has been so glaring for much of the season.
The Padres are busy today! #MLBTonight dives in after San Diego reportedly acquired Ryan O'Hearn AND Ramón Laureano. https://t.co/GmxIRKXL4B pic.twitter.com/bESKsd9c3t
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 31, 2025
All of these additions came at a price. The departure of Leodalis De Vries hurt in the moment and may prove costly in the future, but for now, he was an 18-year-old prospect still finding his way through the lower levels of the Padres’ organization. He may one day prove to be the superstar many in San Diego expect him to be, but that development will not come for at least a couple of years. Along with De Vries, several promising prospects moved to new teams as did pitchers Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert.
The moves Preller made Thursday show a willingness to commit to 2025 and the belief that he has in the players already on the roster and Manager Mike Shildt. They also provide San Diego with some security in the future in areas where the Padres expect to lose players. Suarez has a player opt-out that he is expected to exercise and Cease and King will be free agents. It has been reported that San Diego would like to keep at least one of them, but there is no guarantee that either of them return. Preller paid a steep price to make the additions he did, but Padres fans can take solace in knowing that he has put together a roster that should allow them to not only make the playoffs, but push the Los Angeles Dodgers for a division title.
Welcome to the Brown & Gold.#ForTheFaithful pic.twitter.com/yvDIBdrYzV
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 1, 2025
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