The Padres’ biggest deadline question has a familiar shape: what do they do with Mason Miller?
With the MLB trade deadline now fewer than 10 days away, the buzz around San Diego has only grown louder, and Miller sits at the center of it. He’s the club’s most obvious trade chip, the kind of arm that could bring back multiple pieces and help reshape a roster that still has gaps to cover.
That’s exactly why former Padres All-Star closer Heath Bell thinks the team should move him.
"You need to trade Mason Miller," Bell said. "You can get maybe a starter and another bat."
Bell’s point is straightforward: if San Diego is trying to patch more than one hole while fighting for a wild-card spot in a crowded National League, one premium trade piece may be the cleanest way to do it. It would hurt to lose Miller, but the payoff could help the Padres in more than one area.
The Yankees have been the team most closely tied to Miller in trade chatter, and the fit makes sense on paper. New York needs bullpen help, and Bell would like to see the Padres use that connection to push for more than just talent in return.
"If I was going to do something, I would try to trade with the Yankees and see if they would take Xander Bogaerts and Mason Miller and give me a starter," Bell said.
Bogaerts’ contract is part of the conversation, too. San Diego has already been reported as a team that could use a Miller deal to get out from under the infielder’s long-term money.
Bogaerts signed an 11-year, $280 million contract, and seven years remain after the 2026 season. The Padres owe him $24.5 million per year, and whether New York or any other club would take that on is a separate question.
Still, pairing Bogaerts with Miller could make the idea more workable for a team like the Yankees if they want to add Miller and are willing to absorb more payroll.
If the Padres do decide to deal Miller, the return will matter most. New York has the kind of prospect capital that could interest San Diego, with George Lombard Jr., Elmer Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange among the names in the mix.
A.J. Preller has built a reputation for squeezing value out of trades, and that matters here.
The Padres president of baseball operations will be looking to maximize any return if Miller is moved. For now, though, the biggest question is whether he actually pulls the trigger before the Aug. 3 deadline.
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