LAS VEGAS -- This week marked the unofficial start of baseball’s Hot Stove season, with the General Managers Meetings, followed by the MLB Awards. Here are four takeaways from the week in Las Vegas for the Padres:

Do they address their ‘top need’ by looking to their biggest strength?

The Padres need to find starting pitching , whether it’s via trade or free agency. Or, more likely, both. But judging from general manager A.J. Preller’s media availability, it seems like a distinct possibility that San Diego could add to its starting mix by looking to its own bullpen. Under pitching coach Ruben Niebla, the Padres have had plenty of success transitioning relievers.

At the very least, they’re going to have those conversations in the coming days. The most prominent from among that group is

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