SAN DIEGO -- The Padres didn’t win the offseason, as they often have in recent years, but they just might eke out a few extra wins this season because of their Spring Training.

The offseason was defined by what the Padres shed -- superstars Juan Soto (trade), Josh Hader (free agency) and Blake Snell (free agency). But Spring Training brought a more characteristic A.J. Preller blockbuster: a trade for frontline pitcher Dylan Cease. The rebuilt farm system bore fruit in the form of rookie Jackson Merrill, who moved from shortstop to plug a gaping hole in center field.

The Padres are two games into the regular season, thanks to early games against the Dodgers in the Seoul Series, but they had some leftover spring business this week with two exhibitions against the Mariners at Petco Park, the second of which they dropped 7-6 on Tuesday.

Preller, the Padres’ president of baseball operations and general manager, took a moment on Tuesday before his club’s final exhibition game to assess how the team has come together.

What did he like most about this spring?

“The way we handled that shortened spring,” Preller said. “We were very focused on our work. Knowing we had limited time, seeing us make the most of that time. We were ready to travel and had two good games over there. I think that was a product of us coming into camp focused on what we needed to do and using our time efficiently.”

The Padres went into camp with a new manager, two open spots in the pitching rotation, a bullpen full of newcomers and unknowns, the starting middle infielders swapping positions, Manny Machado coming off elbow surgery and only two outfielders on the Major League roster.

Mike Shildt certainly wasn’t a concern, having had a successful run as the Cardinals’ manager. The rotation shifted from worry to strength with the addition of Cease and healthy springs from Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove. Xander Bogaerts’ professionalism made his flip-flop with Ha-Seong Kim a non-story. Machado was ready to hit at the opening bell and could return to third base before April ends.

The outfield remains thin, but Jurickson Profar signed to handle left field and Merrill gave every indication he’s Major League-ready at age 20.

“Jackson, he’s a guy that when you put in the preparation and the work and you’re talented, usually good things happen,” Preller said. “He’s somebody who had a great offseason. He prepared himself for the moment.

“You never know what’s going to happen results-wise. But when you have a really talented player and athlete who puts the time in, who has a good mindset, then usually good things happen. I’m glad he went out and had a good spring.”

Preller noted that Merrill won’t be a one-off. Corner infielder Graham Pauley and outfielder Jakob Marsee soon could be making contributions, too. Pauley made his MLB debut in Korea and could crack the 26-man roster that lines up against the Giants for the home opener on Thursday. Marsee didn’t break camp with the Padres but flashed a great glove and posted a .370 on-base percentage in Cactus League play.

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Certainly, there’s a different mix in the clubhouse as rookies could prove as important to team success as the All-Stars. Expectations cede to opportunities.

“In the offseason,” Preller said, “not making the big splash as far as a position player, part of that was we knew we had some guys in the pipeline who would show well in camp. And I think they did.”

That said, it’s going to take a good chunk of the regular season for Preller to know just what he has built. One area he’ll be watching closely is the bullpen, which could have five newcomers under pitching coach Ruben Niebla’s watch when the roster is set on Thursday and will have a new closer in Robert Suarez.

“We have some new faces in the bullpen,” Preller said. “Seeing how Shildty and Ruben use them -- lefties, righties, lots of different weapons -- seeing how Cease and Michael King, two new starters, seeing how they get used to San Diego … those are a couple things we have to get right over the first couple months.”