The San Diego Padres are known for making big moves at the Major League Baseball trade deadline, and this year was no exception. General manager A.J. Preller once again shook up the market by acquiring relievers Jason Adam and Tanner Scott for a plethora of prospects.
Despite already having a strong bullpen with Robert Suarez and Jeremiah Estrada, the Padres made their bullpen even stronger with these new additions. This could potentially make them serious contenders for the title.
According to MLB reporters Alden González and Kiley McDaniel from ESPN, the Padres are now seen as a “legitimate threat” to win the National League. González noted that their roster is one of the most well-balanced among the NL wild-card hopefuls.
The Padres solidified their case with a remarkable comeback win against the Los Angeles Dodgers, coming back from a 5-0 deficit to win 6-5 with a Donovan Solano walk-off single. They are currently seven games above .500 and hold a Wild Card spot by half a game.
After narrowly missing the playoffs last year despite having the third-best run differential in the National League, the Padres are determined not to miss out this year. Their impactful trades at the deadline have significantly boosted their talent level compared to last season.
Both Scott and Adam are set to join the roster on Wednesday, completing the team the Padres hope will carry them through the playoffs. McDaniel pointed out that the Padres now have a formidable four-headed bullpen monster, which could be a winning playoff formula if their offense performs well.
While the Padres may be the most intimidating team in a Wild Card position for a potential playoff matchup, McDaniel emphasized the importance of actually securing a playoff spot.
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