Padres general manager AJ Preller is never ready until he is done. Which, judging by reasons like these, may never happen.
The Padres on Monday added to what was already on paper the strongest rotation in franchise history. Their latest bout will bring right-handed Joe Musgrove back home in the heat of what is expected to be a pennant chase. According to sources, San Diego has agreed to acquire the Grossmont High graduate in a trio deal with the Pirates and the Mets. The deal, which is pending medical reviews, will send left-handed starter Joey Lucchesi to New York, while rescuer David Bednar and prospects Hudson Head, Omar Cruz and Drake Fellows will be sent to Pittsburgh.
In exchange for Musgrove, the Padres continue to subscribe to the theory that a Major League team can never have enough pitching. After a pandemic season where their inning leader just eschewed 70 frames, they now seem to own the deepest of the league …