If the New York Mets are serious about transforming their bullpen into a true late-inning fortress, this rumored three-team trade could be the swing-for-the-fences move they’ve been circling for months. The centerpiece?
San Diego Padres flamethrower Mason Miller - one of the nastiest arms in baseball right now - potentially heading to Queens. But it doesn’t stop there.
The Padres, in turn, are eyeing Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr., while the White Sox would walk away with a haul of high-upside prospects. It’s the kind of deal that could reshape all three rosters - and fast.
Mason Miller: The Mets’ Missing Piece in the Ninth
Let’s start with Miller. This isn’t just a good closer we’re talking about - he’s been dominant.
Last season, split between Oakland and San Diego, he posted a 2.63 ERA, an even better 2.23 FIP, and a WHIP under 1.00 over 61.2 innings. That’s elite territory.
But the real eye-popper? His 44.4% strikeout rate - the highest in the league.
That’s not just replacing Edwin Díaz’s 40.5% K-rate; it’s upgrading it.
Yes, Miller’s walk rate ticked up to 12% last season, which is something to watch. But he showed better control in his rookie campaign (8.4% BB rate), so there’s reason to believe that can be reined in. And with Miller still a year away from arbitration, the Mets wouldn’t just be getting a one-year rental - they’d be locking down the back end of their bullpen for the foreseeable future.
Luis Robert Jr.: A High-Risk, High-Reward Bet for San Diego
On the Padres’ side, they’d be betting on a bounce-back from Luis Robert Jr., a player who’s flashed superstar upside but has struggled to stay on the field. After a 38-homer, 122 wRC+ campaign in 2023, Robert has seen his production dip the last two years - both marred by injuries and limited playing time. His wRC+ has dropped to 84 in back-to-back seasons, and he’s failed to crack 450 plate appearances in either.
But here’s the thing: before a late-season hamstring strain shut him down in August, Robert was starting to look like his old self again. Over his final 150 plate appearances of 2025, he posted a .821 OPS and a 127 wRC+. That’s the version the Padres are betting on - and if they get it, they’re adding a dynamic, two-way center fielder to a team that’s lacked consistency at that position.
Defensively, Robert still brings it. Over the last three seasons, he’s posted +8 Defensive Runs Saved and +20 Outs Above Average. Compare that to the Padres’ center fielders over the same span - who’ve combined for -4 DRS and +18 OAA - and it’s clear Robert would be an upgrade in the field as well.
The kicker? The White Sox would reportedly cover part of Robert’s contract, which includes a $20 million salary for 2026 and a team option at the same value for 2027. That makes him even more appealing for a Padres team looking to maximize value without blowing up their payroll.
White Sox Reload with a Prospect Jackpot
For Chicago, this deal would mark a full-on commitment to the rebuild - and they’d be getting a serious injection of talent in return. Four prospects, including two consensus top-100 names, would be headed to the South Side.
From San Diego:
- Kash Mayfield, a 2024 first-round pick, brings big strikeout stuff from the left side.
He posted a 2.97 ERA with a 34.1% K-rate in A-ball and is already considered a top-five prospect in the Padres’ system. His control is advanced for his age, with Baseball America projecting him to have 60-grade command - the best among the White Sox’s current top-10 arms.
From New York:
- Jonah Tong is the headliner here.
After being taken in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, he exploded in 2025, putting up a 1.43 ERA and striking out over 40% of batters across 113.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He did get a taste of the majors this year and had some growing pains in limited action (18.2 innings), but the upside is clear.
He’d immediately be one of the best pitching prospects in Chicago’s system.
- Jett Williams, the Mets’ 2022 first-rounder, is a versatile middle infielder with some pop and plenty of speed. He slashed .261/.363/.465 with a 136 wRC+ across Double-A and Triple-A, hitting 17 homers and stealing 34 bases. He also saw time at second, shortstop, and even center field - a valuable Swiss army knife for a team building from the ground up.
- Jacob Reimer might be the most underrated piece of the deal. He hit .282/.374/.491 with a 157 wRC+ between High-A and Double-A, and his power is no joke - 17 home runs with top-tier slugging metrics.
He’s also shown defensive versatility, playing both corner infield spots. Among current White Sox minor leaguers, Reimer’s offensive numbers would place him near the top in wRC+, slugging, and OPS.
If this deal goes down, Williams and Reimer would immediately slot in as two of the White Sox’s best position player prospects, joining the likes of Braden Montgomery and Caleb Bonemer in what’s quickly becoming a sneaky-good farm system.
A Win-Win-Win?
There’s a lot to unpack here, and plenty of moving parts, but if this three-team trade comes to life, each club walks away with something they badly need.
- The Mets get their closer of the future - a lights-out arm with elite swing-and-miss stuff who can anchor the bullpen for years.
- The Padres take a calculated risk on a potential star in Robert Jr., hoping a change of scenery and better health can unlock his full potential - all while not taking on his full salary.
- The White Sox cash in on their most tradeable asset and walk away with four high-upside prospects, including two who could be MLB-ready sooner rather than later.
It’s bold. It’s complicated. And it makes a lot of sense for all sides.
Now it’s just a matter of whether the front offices are ready to pull the trigger.