The San Diego Padres are gearing up to acquire players at the July trade deadline despite a recent slump. The team sits at 33-31 and is just a half game out of a playoff spot.
The Padres have lost 11 of their last 13 games and are 14-22 since April 27. The Athletic reports that the club intends to be buyers this coming July. The offense has struggled all season, hitting .214/.289/.355 as a unit and ranking last in the majors in runs scored. Fernando Tatis Jr. has one home run, while Manny Machado is batting .169. The rotation is thin, with several starters dealing with injuries and inconsistent results. The farm system also ranks near the bottom in MLB. Team president A.J. Preller has a history of aggressive deadline moves, though the club has not reached the World Series since 1998.
