But Preller, like Beane before him, prefers to focus on what he gets rather than what he gives, and how this year's prize, Miller, joins Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel, Blake Snell, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Josh Hader, Juan Soto, Dylan Cease, Luis Arráez and Tanner Scott -- players who came back in deals and, in varying ways, made the Padres matter.

The Astros were sniffing around the Dylan Cease market at the trade deadline, but there is one player they refused to give the Padres.

San Diego shockingly acquired 100-mph flamethrower Mason Miller from the A’s on Thursday in a massive move ahead of the MLB trade deadline, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed. San Diego is also receiving former Yankee lefty JP Sears, while the A’s are receiving four players, including the No. 3 prospect in the sport in shortstop Leo De Vries.