It is a tradition like no other, sifting through the endless amount of trade rumors and determining which are true before the July 31 deadline. The San Diego Padres are not looking to make one big move. Instead, you can expect Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller to make two or three trades before the deadline.

The Padres have multiple needs and a thinner farm system than a year ago, which might mean they have to settle for another rental or two.

The San Diego Padres have to do some payroll gymnastics to address their needs and not take themselves out of the playoff race at the trade deadline.

The San Diego Padres could take a different approach at the trade deadline, Yu Darvish speaks about retirement and the Friars plan to bring back a starter for Tuesday.

On the other, it's clear that San Diego is a cut below the NL's best right now, 3.5 games back of the hated Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. With Dylan Cease, Michael King and more key players set to hit free agency this winter,

The Padres entered play Tuesday with a 3.60 team ERA -- the best mark in the National League. They’ve managed it, somehow, despite a revolving door at the back of their starting rotation. Yu Darvish missed the first 3 1/2 months.

Typically, the MLB trade deadline is a time when teams decide whether to be buyers or sellers as they either prepare for the postseason or look to the future.

San Diego Padres top 2025 trade deadline prospects revealed. Discover potential blockbuster trade targets and how these moves could boost playoff chances.

While the Padres have the best combined bullpen ERA in baseball at 3.15, the idea of any of those teams plucking Duran (or Jax) should compel them into a pursuit. San Diego has largely succeeded so far because of that bullpen, and allowing competitors to narrow the gap does not bode well for their October hopes.