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The Padres were the whale at the poker table. They kept pushing chips into the middle. Blowing through the luxury tax for a second straight year. Trading their best young players for Juan Soto and Josh Bell. Trading for Josh Hader with about $15 million due next year for the one-inning closer. Trading eight of the 10 first-round picks under A.J. Preller. Pushing the payroll to a franchise record $230 million, more than double what it was five years ago.
The Padres saw a window opening right now to win the franchise’s first world championship.