Traded Prospects with Stardom Potential: The Strategy of Padres General Manager A.J. Preller
In the world of Major League Baseball (MLB), trades are a common occurrence, but some deals leave a lasting impact. San Diego Padres General Manager A.J. Preller has made his fair share of notable trades, some of which have resulted in top prospects blossoming elsewhere.
One such trade involved Emmanuel Clase, who was received by the Padres from the Rangers in a small trade. Clase is currently on non-disciplinary paid leave by MLB as part of a gambling investigation. Before the investigation, Clase was an All-Star from 2022 to 2024, and in each of those years, he was the leader in saves in the American League.
Another trade that raised eyebrows was the one that sent Leo De Vries, an 18-year-old shortstop considered the No. 3 overall prospect in baseball as of mid-2025, to the Oakland Athletics in a blockbuster deal for star reliever Mason Miller and lefty starter JP Sears. De Vries, still very young, is regarded as a potential star and key part of the Athletics’ rebuild but has not yet established himself at the MLB level by August 2025.
Meanwhile, Andres Munoz, the two-time All-Star, has an ERA of 1.32 and 24 saves, making him one of the best closers in the league. Munoz was part of a trade that sent Austin Adams, Dan Altavilla, and Austin Nola to San Diego from Seattle.
Josh Naylor, along with pitcher Luis Castillo, was acquired from the Marlins in 2016 for Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea. Naylor was traded away to the Guardians in 2020 for Mike Clevinger and Greg Allen, and was later traded to the Mariners by the Diamondbacks before the 2025 trade deadline.
Trea Turner, who was the fifth-best prospect in San Diego in 2014, was involved in a three-team trade that sent him to the Nationals. Today, Turner is a three-time All-Star playing in Philadelphia and helped the Nationals win the World Series in 2019.
In the 2022 trade deadline deal for Juan Soto, MacKenzie Gore was also a part of the deal. Gore, currently with the Nationals, has the seventh-most strikeouts in MLB with 148 this season. Despite being ranked low in the trade, Gore is now arguably one of the best players on the Nationals today and was selected as an All-Star this year.
James Wood, the lowest-ranked piece in the Soto trade, is now arguably one of the best players on the Nationals today and was selected as an All-Star this year. As of entering Friday, Wood has 24 homers and 71 RBIs.
CJ Abrams, acquired in the Soto deal, is the everyday shortstop for the Nationals. In 2024, CJ Abrams was an All-Star and this season he has a .275 average, 14 home runs, and an .817 OPS.
Preller's strategy emphasizes winning immediately by trading top prospects for proven major league talent, exemplified by acquiring Mason Miller, a high-impact closer under team control for multiple seasons. However, this approach risks the Padres’ future farm system depth and long-term sustainability.
In summary, Preller has traded multiple notable prospects who have gone on to have MLB impact elsewhere, with Leo De Vries currently the most prominent recent trade prospect, expected to develop into a significant MLB player but not yet fully established in the majors. The future of these trades remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the MLB landscape is always evolving, and the impact of these trades will continue to unfold in the years to come.
Baseball trades in the MLB can have a significant impact on players' careers, like Emmanuel Clase, an All-Star from 2022 to 2024, who was sent to the San Diego Padres but is currently on leave due to a gambling investigation. Meanwhile, Andres Munoz, acquired from Seattle in a trade, has emerged as one of the best closers in the league with a 1.32 ERA and 24 saves.
The trade of Leo De Vries, a highly rated prospect, to the Oakland Athletics for star reliever Mason Miller and lefty starter JP Sears, is another example of trades that have shaped the world of sports, as De Vries is yet to establish himself in the MLB but is still considered a potential star.
