Despite an Opening Day payroll of just under $249 million, the San Diego Padres are only in the faintest of Wild Card contention entering the final week of the season.

The club is planning a different strategy for the 2024 season, according to a report.

This includes "player commitments of around $200 million," as the report states that the payroll cut is "in part because they are out of compliance with MLB regulations regarding their debt service ratio."

The Miami Marlins are in playoff contention, but the front office is already focused on their offseason plan.

The Marlins are planning to upgrade at shortstop this winter.

Joey Wendle, an upcoming free agent, has been their primary shortstop. The 33-year-old has hit a meager .222/.257/.323 this year, resulting in a wRC+ of 54.

The Los Angeles Angels are willing to trade Mike Trout if the All-Star outfielder requests one, according to a USA Today report.

Earlier this month, Trout said he plans to discuss the future path of the organization with team management in the offseason.

"When it's brought up in the offseason, you've obviously got to talk about it, and think about it," Trout told the Orange County Register. "I haven't thought about it yet. There are going to be some conversations in the winter, for sure. Just to see the direction of everything and what the plan is."

The Los Angeles Angels placed six players on waivers last week in a cost-cutting move just weeks after they were buyers at the trade deadline.

Lucas Giolito, Randal Grichuk, Dominic Leone, Reynaldo Lopez, Matt Moore and Hunter Renfroe were all placed on waivers. Only Grichuk went unclaimed.

Shedding those five players cleared approximately $5.9 million in the salary the rest of the season.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian acknowledged the club came close to ducking under the $233 million competitive balance tax (CBT) threshold with their waiver activity, but ultimately failed to do so. 

"We'll get to that point when we start building the '24 roster," Minasian told the Orange Country Register when asked how failing to get under the CBT threshold will affect the team moving forward. "But from the conversation I've had, there will be no impact."