/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47234072/usa-today-8728448.0.jpg)
A 7-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Friday meant that the San Diego Padres were officially eliminated from postseason contention in 2015. It was not the season Padres brass or their fans had in mind after San Diego added several big names under first-year general manager A.J. Preller, but things did not go as planned and the Padres struggled to a 70-80 record. Here is how it all went down:
Big names added in offseason
In his first offseason as Padres general manager, A.J Preller was a busy man. He made more than a half dozen trades, acquiring, among others, Matt Kemp, Derek Norris, Wil Myers and Justin Upton. The Padres also signed free agent pitcher James Shields and capped the offseason with a final blockbuster, getting outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. and closer Craig Kimbrel from the Braves the day before their season opener.
With all of the big names in the fold, expectations were high that the Padres could challenge the Dodgers for the NL West crown or at the very least a Wild Card spot, but it was not to be.
Manager Bud Black fired
On June 15, the Padres sat in third place in the NL West with a record of 32-33, six games behind the division-leading Dodgers, when manager Bud Black was fired. Dave Roberts managed San Diego's game that night before Pat Murphy, who had been managing the Padres' Triple-A affiliate in El Paso, was named the manager for the remainder of the 2015 season. Murphy has not been an upgrade over Black, with a 38-46 record this season.
All quiet at the trade deadline
Despite being mired nearly 10 games behind the division lead as the trade deadline approached, the Padres made just one minor move, trading Abraham Almonte to the Indians for reliever Mark Rzepczynski. There were trade rumors surrounding several Padres players, especially Justin Upton, but nothing aside from the deal for Rzepczynski ever materialized.
After the failure of Preller's all-in plan for 2015, it remains to be seen what San Diego will do going forward.