By the time this year’s deadline passed, Preller had traded 14 players and acquired eight. Left-handers JP Sears and Nestor Cortes, first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and outfielder Ramón Laureano were among those the Padres landed in addition to Miller, an All-Star last season who is under team control through 2029.

This year was no different. The Padres made a lot of moves, strengthening their bullpen by adding Mason Miller from the Athletics and shoring up other roster holes by trading for Freddy Fermin, Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano.

Preller brought flame-throwing closer Mason Miller along with starter J.P. Sears to San Diego in a deal with the A’s, trading away No. 3 overall prospect Leo De Vries and three other top-20 prospects in the Padres’ system.