Padres: Should Preller be under scrutiny? Not at all
By Ben Fadden
San Diego Padres GM A.J. Preller has been under some scrutiny, but he shouldn’t be because Preller has stuck to his plan: contention starting in 2020.
The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal recently wrote an article on people on the hot seat, which involved managers like Joe Maddon, Mickey Callaway, and Andy Green. Then, he brought up San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller.
"“Let’s see this, this is nine straight losing seasons for the Padres, five straight under GM A.J. Preller. At what point does the rebuilding end?” Rosenthal said. “…Preller also should not be above scrutiny, even though he is under contract through 2022.”"
He talked about how Preller was sending mixed messages to the team by signing Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer, but handicapping Andy Green with starters who are on innings limits.
The innings limits are to protect the young arms of guys like Chris Paddack, so they will be in top form for their window of contention starting next year.
He is wrong when he says Preller should be under scrutiny. Although he came in and was named the “Rock star GM” by Matt Kemp, as he acquired Craig Kimbrel, Justin Upton, and James Shields along with Kemp, that truly wasn’t his plan.
His real plan began when he traded them to lower the payroll and stock a farm system that would become the best in the league…