San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller is reportedly available for trade, with ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan stating on "The Pat McAfee Show" that the team is listening to offers. Miller, acquired by the Padres during the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, could be on the move again as the deadline approaches.
Passan suggested that the Padres might be looking to trade Miller to acquire much-needed "Major League-ready starting pitching" to bolster a rotation that has been significantly impacted by injuries and underperformance. The team has faced setbacks with several key pitchers, including Joe Musgrove, who experienced a setback after Tommy John surgery and has yet to return. Nick Pivetta has also been limited to four starts due to a flexor strain, and Yu Darvish underwent offseason Tommy John surgery. Veteran pitchers Walker Buehler, Griffin Canning, and Germán Márquez, all on one-year deals, have ERAs above 5.00.
The potential trade of Miller, who has posted a 0.89 ERA with 75 strikeouts in 39 games this season, could also help address the Padres' farm system, which ranks last in baseball. Passan noted that teams with deep pitching prospects, such as the Seattle Mariners with prospects Ryan Sloan and Kade Anderson, could be potential trade partners.
Another potential suitor mentioned was the New York Yankees. Passan speculated that a package involving pitchers like David Bednar, Tim Hill, Brent Headrick, and Fernando Cruz could be part of a deal. The Padres and Yankees have a history of significant trades, including a 2023 deal that sent Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to San Diego in exchange for multiple prospects and a catcher.