San Diego Padres general manager AJ Preller says he does not apologize for trading multiple top prospects at the trade deadline. According to reporting from both outlets, Preller frames the moves as part of a broader effort to improve the team’s starting rotation, indicating the organization made a calculated decision to prioritize immediate pitching needs over keeping certain prospects. In the coverage, Preller’s stance is presented as a direct response to criticism that the prospect trades were excessive or damaging to the Padres’ long-term system. Both sources describe him defending the club’s approach and emphasizing that the front office is not changing course or expressing regret about the decisions made during the deadline period. The accounts agree on the core points: the Padres trade deadline activity involved sending prominent prospects away, Preller publicly addresses the criticism, and he links the transactions to rotation upgrades. No additional conflicting details are raised between the sources. The reports therefore converge on Preller’s defense of the prospect “purge” as a strategic move tied to improving the major-league roster immediately.