The MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando didn’t exactly light up the transaction wire, but one storyline has managed to stick around: the trade buzz between the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets. While no blockbuster has materialized, the chatter has been loud enough to keep fans and front offices on alert.
For a moment, Padres fans had visions of a dream lineup-Fernando Tatis Jr., Francisco Lindor, and Manny Machado anchoring the top of the order. But let’s pump the brakes.
Lindor was never actually in the mix. Despite the rumors, the Mets weren’t shopping their star shortstop.
What they were doing was checking in on San Diego’s pitching depth, looking to shore up their bullpen after losing Edwin Díaz to free agency.
The names floated in those discussions? Nick Pivetta, Adrian Morejon, and Jeremiah Estrada.
But the Mets also made a bold inquiry about Mason Miller. And that’s where things get complicated.
Mason Miller: The Price Tag Is Sky-High
Let’s be clear-if the Mets want Mason Miller, they’re going to have to pay a premium. We’re talking about a package that would likely gut their top-tier prospect depth.
Think Jonah Tong, Brandon Sproat, and Jett Williams-guys the Mets are banking on for the future. That’s a steep price, especially for a team that’s already thin on pitching after an injury-riddled 2025 season.
The Mets were forced to lean heavily on their young arms last year just to stay afloat in the playoff race. Trading away that kind of depth to plug a bullpen hole could leave them exposed in the rotation. It’s a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul-and that’s not a sustainable way to build a contender.
Don’t Bet on Miller Moving
The odds of Miller being traded? Slim to none.
San Diego’s front office wasted no time shutting down those rumors before they could catch fire. And for good reason-Miller isn’t just another arm in the bullpen.
He’s viewed as a foundational piece of the Padres’ pitching staff. They gave up significant assets to get him at last summer’s trade deadline, and flipping him now would be a head-scratcher from a baseball operations standpoint.
Unless the Mets are willing to part with someone they consider untouchable-like Nolan McLean-this conversation probably ends here. Simply put, Miller’s not going anywhere.
What About Nick Pivetta?
Now, if the Padres are looking to make a move, Nick Pivetta might be the more realistic trade chip. He’s coming off the best season of his career-13 wins, a 2.87 ERA over 31 starts-and while that’s impressive, it also might be the peak of his value. At 33, there’s always the risk that regression is right around the corner.
From a financial standpoint, moving Pivetta makes a lot of sense. His contract is heavily backloaded: $19 million in 2026, $14 million in 2027, and $18 million in 2028, with player opt-outs after the first two years. That’s $51 million still on the books, and if his performance dips, that deal could become a burden for a Padres team trying to stay financially flexible.
Trading him now could give San Diego some breathing room on the payroll and open the door to retooling the roster in other areas. Yes, it would thin out the rotation, but it’s a calculated risk-especially if they believe in their internal pitching depth or have eyes on lower-cost free agent options.
What’s Next?
A.J. Preller has never been shy about making bold moves, and the Mets are clearly motivated to upgrade their bullpen.
That’s a recipe for more talks as Spring Training approaches. But unless both sides find common ground-where the Mets don’t have to overpay and the Padres don’t sacrifice core pieces-it’s hard to see a deal getting done.
Still, don’t rule anything out. These two front offices have shown they’re not afraid to swing big. The question is whether they can find a deal that makes sense for both sides without creating new holes in the process.