Padres News: Joe Musgrove Doesn't See AJ Preller Selling at the Trade Deadline

As the Padres heat up, Musgrove believes in San Diego's winning mentality.

The Padres shouldn't be having conversations about whether they should be buyers or sellers at the Aug. 1 trade deadline. But, here we are.

A team with an estimated $251.1 million payroll, the third-highest in Major League Baseball, is five games under .500 and six-and-a-half games back in the NL Wild Card race.

With a beat-up starting rotation and some underperforming stars, the media have questioned the Padres' fight all season long. As the All-Star break approaches, they have begun to rally.

"I'm on the train that says we're gonna catch up," said Padres Chairman Peter Seidler.

(Via

The San Diego Union-Tribune

)

So, while the media has continued to wonder whether the Padres will sell some of their stars, including trading away pitchers Blake Snell and Josh Hader and one of the best young hitters in the game in Juan Soto, San Diego seems focused on catching up.

"The only reason you would sell is if you didn't believe in the product that you're putting out there anymore. Which I don't think is [Seidler's] mindset," said starting pitcher Joe Musgrove. "I don't think that's [team president A.J. Preller's]. I don't think anybody in here is worried about us selling. ... We've got a lot of ground to make up and very little room to do it. I don't think anybody has thought we need to win games if we want to keep players here."

(Via

The San Diego Union-Tribune

)

If the Padres do end up selling at the deadline, that's a lot of talk from a team that sounds committed to working through their on-the-field issues.

Luckily for the Padres, they have a prime opportunity to gain some ground in the Wild Card race before the All-Star break.

The New York Mets, who have mirrored San Diego in that they are also one of the top-spending teams with an identical record, come to town Friday night for the first of a three game series. If the Padres want to commit to buying at the deadline, ending the first half of the season with a series win over the Mets is a crucial next step.