Mason Miller, the only pitcher to exceed 104 mph in the current Major League Baseball season, is on his way to San Diego to join the Padres, who are still in the hunt for the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani in the National League West
The right-hander, who is among the American League’s all-time saves leaders, arrives in San Diego on the final day of the trade deadline from the Athletics, who also parted ways with left-handed starter JP Sears, who this year has a 4.95 ERA in 22 starts
In return, the Padres will send the A’s four players, including top prospect Leo De Vries, third in MLB Pipeline’s ranking of the best talent in Major League organizations’ farm systems
Miller is the highlight of this trade. At 26 years old, the fast reliever has been one of the Athletics’ sensations over the last two seasons. In 2024, he achieved 28 saves in a team that did not even reach 70 wins. This year, before August, he already has 20 saves, so he has intervened in more than 40% of the A’s victories
This course presents an effectiveness of 3.76 in 38 outings to the center of the diamond, with a rate of 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings. Precisely, his ability to retire opponents by way of strikes is very relevant, as in a couple of campaigns he has achieved an average of 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings, with a WHIP of 0.995
A member of a team with no chance of fighting for the postseason and in the midst of a rebuilding process ahead of its move to Las Vegas in 2028, Miller was one of the jewels of the current market and several managers asked about him, but finally the Padres have been the ones who have pushed hardest
The fact that a top prospect like Leo De Vries was included, plus three pitchers who have not been named, clearly speaks to the fact that San Diego has spared no effort to reinforce its pitching staff as much as possible
Miller must be part of a bullpen that has been consistent throughout the course, especially with left-hander Adrian Morejon and right-handers Jason Adam and Robert Suarez. The flamethrower would be a fourth key piece to take the load off a group of starters that has been further diminished by injuries to Michael King and Yu Darvish
With this trade, San Diego is confirmed as the Dodgers’ biggest rival for the National League West pennant. For the moment, the Padres are three games behind the reigning champions and promise to give them a run for their money in the final two months of the regular season.
Read the full article here
