San Diego Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller has never been tentative around the baseball trade deadline, and 2025 was no different. When the clock struck 3 p.m. PST on July 31st, Preller completed five trades involving 22 players.

He addressed needs with the starting rotation, bullpen, and lineup. All the talk was about the acquisition of Mason Miller from the Athletics, but the player who could make the most impact is Ramon Laureano.

Now, if we were speculating on the look of the 2026 Padres roster, the discussion might be about Miller being the new centerpiece of the bullpen, as there is no assurance that Robert Suarez will be wearing the brown & gold next season. However, the team’s current problem is the void in left field, which has been an eyesore all summer.

Friars solved leftfield problem

Preller acquired a player who can hit and field, especially in games that count the most. It has not hurt that Laureano is hitting .346/.370/.654 with a 1.024 OPS in his first six games with the Friars. He has shown himself to be versatile enough to bat anywhere in the batting order.

The Padres need Laureano to make his mark in restoring the offense’s consistency at the plate. He is a proven productive hitter, as Laureano has a career .253 BA and averages 32 doubles, 23 HR, and 70 RBI for a season. He is a patient hitter who rarely goes out of his comfort zone.

The Friars have failed to disguise their inability to score runs for extended periods this season. The bottom of the lineup is unsuccessful in producing when the top of the order puts themselves in scoring position.

The Friar Faithful are hoping Laureano continues hitting over the season’s final two months.

Laureano brings a solid glove

Laureano has started more than 600 games in the outfield, and he comes with elite defensive metrics. He holds a plus-20 total fielding runs above average and a plus-25 runs saved above average for his eight-year major league career.

The Padres’ new leftfielder is an underrated player, but he will never be mistaken for one of the sport’s elite stars. However, do not overlook his offensive and defensive production, as Laureano has a career 16.5 WAR, 13.8 offensive WAR, and a .505 win-loss rate.

Gavin Sheets was thought to be the answer, as he was hitting .248 with 15 HR and 54 RBI. But Sheets appears to be out of the picture after the trade deadline. Since July 31st, he has only had two at-bats.

Let’s be clear, there is no blueprint for success in the postseason. If you attempt to use logic in solving this great mystery, the most complete teams are usually the last one standing.

Preller is not in the business to win a participation trophy. He did not revamp the roster to help the Friars reach the postseason. No, Preller mortgaged the future to give his team a chance to play in the World Series.

Most playoff-bound teams covet being labeled as a “tough out” in a three, five, or seven-game series. Preller is no longer content with such honors, as it is time to hoist a trophy in October.

He may have acquired a difference-maker, and if luck would have it, Preller may accomplish his goal of bringing a World Series title to San Diego.