A year after going all-in with multiple big moves, and on the heels of a disappointing 2015 season, the San Diego Padres seem to be going the opposite direction this winter.

The Padres have already traded relief pitchers Craig Kimbrel and Joaquin Benoit this offseason, and with the MLB Winter Meetings getting rolling rumors surrounding some other key players have surfaced.

Rival club says Padres have shopped Matt Kemp, asked about SS. May be reluctant to eat a lot of money. Unclear if they would attach Ross.

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) December 7, 2015

Sources: #Padres drawing significant interest in Ross, Cashner, Shields. Not surprising, considering FA prices.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 7, 2015

San Diego’s willingness to trade starting pitcher James Shields has been reported before, and fellow starting rotation pieces Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner have also been mentioned as trade candidates. Moving any one of the trio, or all three while also likely losing Ian Kennedy in free agency, would leave the Padres woefully thin on starting pitching with equal additions unlikely to happen.

Outfielder Matt Kemp actually had a reasonably productive 2015 season, with 23 home runs and a team-high 100 RBI while playing 154 games. But the $73 million he is due over the next four seasons (outside of what is being paid by the Los Angeles Dodgers) makes him an immovable piece if the Padres are unwilling to eat a lot of money.

Shedding salaries is a nice idea on the surface, and Padres’ general manager A.J. Preller should make an effort to do just that if a rebuilding effort is the goal looking toward 2016. But it will be easier said than done, especially after the team’s underachievement last season, and the Padres may be stuck in the middle ground between playoff contention and bottoming out next season.

Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter.