In baseball, there are typically two camps, (1) people who love prospects and the potential they bring for the long-term future of an organization or (2) people who see prospects as capital to be used to trade and improve the big-league club.
San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller has been in that second group for the past several years. He likes to build the farm up with young, promising talent and then tear it down by trading it away to acquire major league ready talent.
The 2025 deadline trade of minor league shortstop Leodalis De Vries for Mason Miller and JP Sears is the most recent example of this. As much as Preller builds up and tears down the farm, it is a wonder that there are any Padres prospects left that draw the attention of national baseball writers. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball looks at the top 10 San Diego farmhands according to Baseball America.
Padres News:
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Speculation abounds about what teams will pursue and sign what players and the Padres are no exception. AJ Cassavell of Padres.com gives some insight about what fans need to know as Preller and the San Diego front office personnel head to Orlando next week.
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After taking a look at the catching prospects in the San Diego system, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune sets his sights on the infielders in the Padres farm system. Will those players even make the majors? Will Preller keep them long enough to see hem take the field as a member of the San Diego roster? That remains to be seen.
Baseball News:
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The Toronto Blue Jays took down the first big name off free agency, signing Dylan Cease to bolster their rotation. Toronto was not done though as the Blue Jays agreed to a three-year contract with right-hander Cody Ponce.
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Another pitching option for the San Diego rotation came off the free-agent list with the Los Angeles Angels agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with starter Alek Manoah.
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The Houston Astros followed suit and signed a pitcher as well, agreeing to terms with KBO pitcher Ryan Weiss. The question always remains about how the players and pitchers will handle the move from the KBO to MLB, but the Astros have seen enough and Weiss will be in the fold in Houston in 2026.
