San Diego Padres: From Wild Card to World Series contender in 48 hours

Fowler’s Message to San Diego Padres was Loud and Clear

“If things don’t change for the better in 2020, heads will roll beginning with mine.”

It was an honest, frank comment from Fowler at a 2019 season-ending team event. Also, it was a fair assessment of another disappointing season. The San Diego Padres had not made the playoffs since 2006 and time was running out on Preller to put a competitive team on the field.

He received the message loud and clear. Preller went back to work and acted like an employee who was on the hot seat. He began re-working the roster by acquiring Trent Grisham and Zach Davies from the Milwaukee Brewers. Then, Preller traded for Tommy Pham and Jake Cronenworth from the Tampa Bay Rays. And the final pieces of the puzzle were the trades completed this past weekend.

Let’s be honest, not many general managers have the guts to make this type of radical change to their roster so close to the start of the postseason. Typically, playoff contenders are looking to add a piece to the bullpen or an extra bat to their bench at the deadline.

Preller broke that mold by successfully completing consecutive blockbuster trades that put the San Diego Padres in the middle of the chase for a World Series title. The Friars have a more balanced lineup from both sides of the plate and a pitching staff can shut down an opponent’s offense in a three, five, or seven game series come October.