Justin Upton's name has been rumored as a potential bat available on the trade market, but the outfielder says he hopes to stick with the San Diego Padres.

"At this point, I haven't given up on the team,'' Upton said. "I really like the guys, and I like the clubhouse. We still have some time to change the minds of the front office. In a perfect world, we play well over the next two or three weeks and A.J. [Preller] pumps the brakes on dismantling the team.''

The Padres were expected to contend in the National League West after Preller swung a series of moves this past offseason. They enter the second half of the season eight games under .500, 10 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers and 7½ out from a wild-card spot.

Upton, 27, has a .753 OPS and 14 home runs in 87 games this season. He's immersed in a 4-for-41 slump that's dropped his batting average from .276 to .253 since late June.

"Once you've been traded, it becomes easier," Upton said. "Obviously you don't ever want to leave a team you enjoy being on, but you start to understand it's a part of game. The game is the same any place you go, so you have to be OK with it."