The Padres’ deadline picture is coming into focus, and Mason Miller looks set to stay put.
For days, Miller has been one of the biggest names floating around the trade market as San Diego weighed its options ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. The chatter made sense on paper: the Padres have underperformed, their farm system lacks premium prospects, and Miller’s name naturally drew interest from clubs hunting for bullpen help. Still, the price tag was always the obstacle.
Alden Gonzalez of ESPN reported that San Diego has decided not to move its star closer unless something unexpected changes.
“Don't expect another Miller blockbuster," Gonzalez wrote. "Things can change quickly this time of year, especially with A.J. Preller, but at this point, according to teams in the market for relievers, it would be a shock if the San Diego Padres traded Mason Miller before Monday's deadline."
That lines up with the broader sense around the league. The New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners were among the teams linked to Miller, but no one appears to have met what the Padres were asking for.
A.J. Preller also never seemed eager to deal him, and after paying a steep price to land Miller last year - including top prospect Leo De Vries - moving him again so soon would have taken a massive return.
Miller himself has wanted to stay in San Diego, and the Padres know how hard it is to replace a reliever with his kind of impact. If a trade ever happens, the offseason would make more sense than doing it now, when teams can navigate contract control and payroll more freely.
Jon Heyman echoed the same outlook, saying, “I do believe Mason Miller will end up staying.”
Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune said much the same, writing, “The likelihood of closer Mason Miller being traded was never high, and it has seemingly been entirely extinguished as the team has played better in July.”
And it’s easy to see why the Padres would want to hold firm. Miller has been their best bullpen arm all season, and he even drew some Cy Young buzz earlier in the year. Through 45 appearances, he has posted a 0.76 ERA with 28 saves in 29 chances.
San Diego is still in the market to improve the roster, and it could still move other pieces. But barring a surprise, Miller is expected to remain a central part of the Padres’ bullpen for the rest of the season.
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