https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6515747/2025/07/28/mlb-trade-deadline-executive-personalities/

At this time of year, as the trade deadline approaches, executives must figure out which players on rival clubs are available and how to acquire them. To do so, the execs must understand how their contemporaries see the world and operate within it. The personalities of Major League Baseball executives form the game’s hidden undercurrent.

Preller, like to kibitz on the phone. In order to do the job, several executives explained, you need to know how to connect with your counterparts. “You talk to everybody a little bit differently, based on past history and what you think may resonate with them,” Preller said.

A rival executive conjured a metaphor for A.J. Preller that was fitting for an executive who often wears bucket hats and basketball shorts.

“I picture him in a boat in the middle of a lake, with 1,000 lines in the water,” the executive said.

A different executive crafted a similar image for Andrew Friedman — a juggler tasked with keeping all his options viable. The two illustrations are fitting for a pair of executives who operate in different ways but end up in similar positions. “Andrew works his network,” one executive said. “He’s really f—ing good. And he knows what’s going on out there. And A.J. does, too — on a different network.”

On the field, the Dodgers and Padres have established the sport’s most bitter rivalry. Off the field, the front offices compete for the same players, from Mookie Betts to Juan Soto to Roki Sasaki.
The conflict can confound other teams

A common complaint from third parties at the deadline is that they are unsure if the Dodgers are actually interested in a player or just trying to inflate the price for the Padres — or vice versa. Clubs do not doubt Preller’s sincerity, but worry about other options he is pursuing. “You can think you’re going to do a deal with A.J.,” one executive said. “But just beware that he’s having 900 calls a day, and he’s going to do the one deal that is best for him. And it is very easy to get left out in the cold.”

On trading prospects, “A.J.,” one rival executive chuckled, “ain’t scared.”

Preller will keep trying. And he does not intend to alter his strategy. “He’s told me this before over the years: ‘We’re willing to do something stupid — not crazy,’” Dipoto said.

“We’re going to trade good players to get players,” Preller said. “We’re willing to make moves.”

22 comments

  3. Should just share a discord with all GM’s and writers

    AJ: LtB catcher dm for details

    Twins: DM’d

    Writer’s headline. Padres looking for a catcher. Twins and padres in deeps talks

  5. That seems like some garbage business decisions if they’re just going around trying to make the Padres pay more. They’re scared of beating us on the field so they’re trying to do it in the Front Office.

  6. interesting from a different perspective, how teams try and screw eachother instead of the onfield product. prellar is the embodiement of “dont worry, there is a method to the madness” lets go prellar

  8. “Every move is a kill move.” “Every move is a kill move!! Every move means something.” “What is your opponent trying to do?”

  15. Of course they are. Why do you think they picked up every free agent last year that has a connection to SD? Tanner Scott, Snell, Sasaki. It’s not just about getting better, but keeping talent away from other teams too.

  18. This is honestly my favorite time of the year this past decade. Time to cook, AJ!

  19. Okay, question. The jokes about AJ/Cocaine that keep popping up. Did he ever get suspended or “caught” or is it all just a giant meme? I laugh every time, but I don’t know where it started. Haha

  20. Ain’t scared because he’s proven he can reload and find gems in the international amateur market. It’s to the point to where other GMs value AJ’s prospects because they know he can identify upside with the best of them.

  22. Such a quiet trading season compared to what we are used to – it feels odd. But we are 2/3 of the way through the season and just one winning streak away from the top of the West. It doesn’t feel that way, however.

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