We are less than a month away from the All-Star Game and less than two months away from the Aug. 3 trade deadline. There’s been a lot to discuss from what has been a surprising season to date, and you had plenty of questions when we opened up the mailbag. So let’s get right into them. Thanks, as always, for your enthusiasm. (Note: Questions edited for clarity.)What are your thoughts on the way that A.J. Preller operates. I’m a Padres fan and don’t get people’s complaints, because whilst, yes, we have a rough farm system, A.J. always puts an entertaining team on the field, filled with big names for us to get behind. He always makes big, exciting trades and never acts like a seller or a loser. Do you think he operates in a beneficial way that other GMs could learn from? — cooper.cunningham1I’m a huge fan of A.J. Preller and the job he has done to make the Padres a perennial contender. He is one of the best wheeler-dealers in the game, although, like all GMs, his trades and signings can and should be second-guessed at times. That said, it’s hard to argue where he has taken this organization in terms of attendance and franchise value. We all just witnessed the team being sold for more money than any other team in MLB history. If he hadn’t built this team into a winner, attendance wouldn’t be where it is, and the sale price would almost certainly have been lower.He’s entertaining and not afraid to go for it, year in and year out. It’s a style that has worked for him and the Padres during his tenure. He’s also one of the best human beings in the game. He loves baseball as much as anyone and grinds 24/7/365. He’s not afraid to trade his best prospects for superstars and vice versa.As a fan, you have to keep in mind that if you’re going to trade for a Juan Soto, you have to give up a James Wood. And if you’re going to trade for Mason Miller, you’re going to have to give up a Leo De Vries. Fans will love the trade at the time and then second-guess it when the other team has the star player. That’s how it works.How can the Phillies bring Mike Trout home? Is it only at an Eagles home game or can they work some magic from Dave Dombrowski? — Mark L.I would love to see Mike Trout finish his career with the Phillies, and they have a huge hole in right field right now. I even think for the first time that Trout would be willing to waive his no-trade rights to go to Philadelphia. However, the Angels would have to pay down his contract significantly and probably wouldn’t get the prospect return it would take to offset the publicity nightmare.In addition, if owner Arte Moreno wouldn’t let his front office trade two months of Shohei Ohtani for a package led by Junior Caminero, why would he sign off on a Trout deal? There’s also the added layer that GM Perry Minasian is in the final year of his contract and if he trades Trout and finishes with the worst record in the league, his chances of keeping his job go to zero.I would love to see it happen, but just don’t see it from my vantage point.Can the Angels and Phillies find common ground to bring Mike Trout back home? (Tim Warner / Getty Images)What is the Phillies’ ideal trade deadline? We all know this team needs a bat in the middle of the lineup/bat cleanup. But with a limited farm system and not many right-handed options out there, who would you look to target if you were them? I would love Byron Buxton or Ketel Marte but don’t see either of them being traded and don’t want Mike Trout for contract/injuries. Other needs, a fourth or fifth starter/starting pitching depth/high-leverage relief arm maybe? — Scott C.I’m being told by GMs that the Phillies’ front office is on the prowl for an impact outfielder. I think Buxton would be an excellent trade target if he waives his no-trade clause. I also think Jarren Duran or Wilyer Abreu of the Red Sox would be strong fits.Sonny Gray, Aroldis Chapman, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu all seem like guys who would make sense in Cleveland. Do you see the Guardians and Red Sox matching up on a deal? What would a deal look like that would get some of these guys to Cleveland? — Michael J.If the Red Sox decide to “sell,” they could end up the headliner at the trade deadline because most teams need a starting pitcher (Sonny Gray), an impact left-handed reliever (Aroldis Chapman) and an outfield bat (Jarren Duran). However, I’m not sure the Guardians are the right match for Boston because I like Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez in the outfield corners, and the Guardians rotation is deep one through four. I think the Red Sox fit best with the Phillies or Padres on Duran and the White Sox best on Gray and Chapman.