The San Diego Padres began the 2026 MLB season as one of the hottest teams. Under first-year manager Craig Stammen, they sat at 31-20 through May 23 and were just half a game back from the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West lead.
However, over the past 16 games, the Padres have gone 4-12, which included a six-game losing streak from May 30 to June 5. San Diego is now 35-32, eight games behind the Dodgers, but does hold a wild-card spot.
With the trade deadline set for Aug. 3, this tough stretch has led to speculation that the Padres could be buyers or sellers.
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However, the Padres are still weighing their options. During an appearance on 97.3 The Fan, general manager A.J. Preller revealed that a decision may not come until July.
“I think overall for us, it’s you know, get to July and then you’ll kind of have a better feeling of where we’re at,” Preller said. “You know, at that point in time, you go ahead and make moves that you feel like that sit where we’re at as a team and an organization and go from there. Hopefully it’s a team that continues to be competitive, and we’re looking to add to it here in a month or so.”
Since taking over for the Padres in 2014, Preller has gained a reputation as one of MLB's most aggressive general managers. Despite the team's recent stretch, he remains hopeful San Diego can turn things around.
As July approaches, the Padres' performance over the next several weeks will determine whether the front office adds more talent or sells off some of its most valuable pieces to build for the future.
