"Preller drives everyone nuts!" said an AL executive. "He basically kept multiple teams on the hook as he shopped De Vries. He was a buyer, but kind of operated like a seller in terms of auctioning off De Vries to the highest bidder."

The San Diego Padres made a lot of moves at the trade deadline, but one of their smaller moves looks to be better than anybody expected.

By strip-mining San Diego's farm system, Preller made it clear that the Padres are aiming for the World Series again this season.