As the San Diego Padres continue to nip at the heels of the spiraling Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the West, general manager AJ Preller has been hard at work trying to creatively improve the team.

The trade deadline has become a season within the season; an event covered with more fervor than the actual games.

If Brian Cashman and company don't ultimately land the All-Star slugger, Ke'Bryan Hayes of the Pirates could be an interesting option at third base.

But as a buyer, it won’t be easy for San Diego to do that trade without diminishing its 2025 team.