Just a year after the San Diego Padres traded for Mason Miller during the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, he could be on the move again.
ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan made an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” and said Miller is “definitely available,” but added that the asking price will be steep.
“Now does that mean A.J. Preller, who is one of the most prolific traders of all executives in baseball, is going to flip him? Just a year after acquiring him for Leo De Vries, who’s one of the best prospects in baseball,” Passan said. “Not necessarily.”
The news that Miller might be on the move comes four days after it was reported the Padres are open to moving him, and also a day after MLB Insider Bob Nightengale suggested the Padres move him as a way to fix their depleted farm system.
Passan went on to say that the Padres’ need for “Major League-ready starting pitching” could be what moves Miller.
The Padres’ starting rotation this season has been plagued by injuries and poor performances by veteran pitchers.
The team was expecting Joe Musgrove to rejoin the starting rotation after missing all of last season due to Tommy John Surgery. During a spring training game this year, he had a setback by hurting his elbow and has yet to throw.
Nick Pivetta has only made four starts this season due to a flexor strain. His injury comes a year after he had career-bests in ERA (2.87) and strikeouts (190) in 31 starts.
Before the year began, San Diego also found out they would be without Yu Darvish, who had Tommy John Surgery in the offseason.
San Diego’s starting rotation has also featured veteran pitchers Walker Buehler, Griffin Canning, and Germán Márquez, who are competing on one-year, prove-it deals. All three of them hold an ERA above 5.00
The future isn’t looking too bright either for San Diego, as their farm system ranks dead last in all of baseball.
“If you’re a team like the Seattle Mariners that has a deep rotation already in Ryan Sloan and Kade Anderson,” Passan said. “Two of the best pitching prospects in baseball on the cusp of being ready for the big leagues, it’s something you have to consider.”
Passan went on to list the Yankees as another potential trade partner, by creating a package that includes David Bednar, Tim Hill, Brent Headrick and relief pitcher Fernando Cruz.
The Padres and Yankees have a history of making trades together in the past, notably in 2023 when San Diego swapped Juan Soto and Trent Grisham for Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito and Kyle Higashioka.
Trading Miller could be the best avenue for the Padres to fix their depleted farm system that needs pitching, as he is considered one of the best closers in baseball, having a 0.89 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 39 games this season.
