Padres News: Anonymous Player Talks Toxic Relationship Between AJ Preller, Bob Melvin

Not a good scene in San Diego.

In what can only be described as an utter disappointment of a 2023 season, the San Diego Padres have had plenty of reports about the overall franchise dysfunction come to light in recent weeks. 

Among those attempting to explain why the team hasn't succeeded this year is a theory that the pairing of GM A.J. Preller and manager Bob Melvin has been less than ideal, bordering on toxic according to one unnamed player. Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin of The Athletic got the scoop.

One player, while careful not to absolve himself and his teammates of blame, likened the situation to a toxic relationship between parents in which the kids suffer. If nobody’s on the same page and you’re getting two stories from two different people, there is not trust there,” the player said. “The players are going to feel like, well, who can I confide in? Who can I talk to?”

via Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin, The Athletic

Players aren't the only ones to notice this unusual relationship within the team as former members within the organization corroborated the issue to Lin and Rosenthal, specifically concerning Preller's tendencies with his roster. 

Preller, in the view of one former staffer, tries to be almost a friend to players, leaving Melvin and his coaches to deliver tougher messages. A person who previously worked with Preller said, “in Oakland, you had a situation with a GM (Billy Beane) who was at 40,000 feet and let the manager manage. A.J. gets to 40,000 feet, and then he’s down at 10,000 and almost like he’s in the dugout on an ongoing basis. And you can’t be that way.”



via Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin, The Athletic

Still under .500 with just weeks left in the season, the Padres are at risk of squandering one of baseball's biggest payrolls without seeing a postseason appearance, an unfathomable development when spring training began.

You can read the full bombshell report by Lin and Rosenthal by clicking here.