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8 Tempting Mason Miller Trade Packages to Sway Padres
For the San Diego Padres, Mason Miller is either an ace closer to cherish or arguably the best trade chip any team could cash in before MLB's August 3 trade deadline.
It's becoming clear that other teams are hoping the Padres will go the trade route with the two-time All-Star. There's been a bunch of buzz about Miller as potential trade bait recently, to a point where San Diego general manager A.J. Preller finally had to talk about it.
According to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com, Preller declared he wants Miller to "be here for a long time." But with his club mired in a 17-28 slide since May 24, he also spoke of needing to be "open-minded" about the trade deadline.
Certainly, he could benefit from taking such an approach to trading Miller. The 27-year-old fireballer has a strong case as MLB's best relief pitcher, and his club control runs through 2029. As he did in the Juan Soto trade, moving Miller could be a way for Preller to score major league talent and prospects.
Ahead, we'll pitch deals for eight teams that have what it takes to deal for Miller. The offers are ranked according to how much sense they make for both sides.
Note: Prospect rankings are according to B/R's Joel Reuter.
8. Texas Rangers
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Trade Proposal: Texas Rangers get RHP Mason Miller; San Diego Padres get SS Sebastian Walcott (MLB No. 24), RHP Winston Santos
Why the Padres Would Do It
The Padres got Miller from the Athletics last season largely because they gave up shortstop Leo De Vries, who's now the No. 2 prospect in MLB.
As Mark Feinsand of MLB.com covered, there's no way the Padres probably can't get similar prospect value for Miller now. But Walcott is one of the better facsimiles for De Vries out there. He's arguably still a top-10 prospect [gestures at MLB Pipeline] even after elbow surgery knocked out the first half of his 2026 season, and he still has a projection as a five-tool infielder.
Santos, meanwhile, is rated by MLB Pipeline as Texas' No. 5 prospect. One with a 7.63 ERA in the minors, granted, but he throws 100 mph and has major league experience. He'd be a project for San Diego, but a worthwhile one.
Why the Rangers Should Do It
They arguably shouldn't, given that Walcott is by far the best prospect in a system that has thinned out a little in recent years.
But then again, this is an older team whose championship window might not be open for much longer. And with the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros currently underneath them in the AL West, the time to bury them is now.
Adding Miller would basically be an effort to get the club's bullpen on par with its Jacob deGrom-led rotation. He'd join fellow All-Star Jacob Latz to form a one-two punch that could turn postseason games into seven-inning sprints.
7. Tampa Bay Rays
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Trade Proposal: Tampa Bay Rays get RHP Mason Miller; San Diego Padres get C Caden Bodine (MLB No. 52), RHP Brody Hopkins (MLB No. 83)
Why the Padres Would Do It
Since Ethan Salas is their No. 1 prospect, the Padres don't need another well-regarded backstop in their system. But there's no such thing as too many talented prospects, and Bodine doesn't necessarily need to be catcher.
It's his bat that makes him special, and the evidence of that is all in the work he's done in the minors this year. He's hitting .351 with a .418 OBP, and that's with 30 walks against 20 strikeouts. Even as a future first baseman, a high floor like that would play in the majors.
For his part, Hopkins currently has a real problem with walks (70 in 71.2 IP) at Triple-A Durham. But he has as many as four plus pitches on a good day, so there would be a lot for San Diego to unlock.
Why the Rays Should Do It
The Rays don't normally play in the corner of the trade market reserved for stars, but that could change this year. To wit, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that they're in on Tarik Skubal.
That clearly indicates that they want a starter, but an ace-caliber arm for the bullpen is arguably the better way to go. Their pen ranks 19th with a 4.27 ERA, and is likewise in the bottom half of MLB in strikeout percentage.
With Miller, the Rays would have a better chance of not just taking the AL East crown, but getting back to the World Series. If anything, they'd become the instant favorites in the AL to do so.
6. Milwaukee Brewers
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Trade Proposal: Milwaukee Brewers get RHP Mason Miller; San Diego Padres get SS Luis Peña (MLB No. 18), 3B Andrew Fischer (Brewers No. 7)
Why the Padres Would Do It
There's no major league talent to be found here, but this is about as good of a prospect package as San Diego could ask for.
Fischer alone is more exciting than his rank in Milwaukee's system indicates. He was the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 draft, and he's taken the minors by storm this year by cranking 29 home runs and slugging .697 in 76 games.
Peña may be the Brewers' second-best infield prospect, and where he fits defensively is an open question. But his hit, power and speed tools are all above-average or better, so he'd challenge Ethan Salas to be San Diego's No. 1 prospect.
Why the Brewers Should Do It
Truth be told, it's hard to see the Brewers doing something like this. Dealing for in-their-prime stars is just not really their bag, least of all at these kinds of prices.
However, this is a legit World Series contender that might as well double down on pitching as its hallmark. The Brewers already have MLB's second-best ERA at 3.48. Add Miller to the bullpen alongside Trevor Megill, and a good bullpen becomes a super-bullpen.
The Brewers don't need Miller to win the NL Central. But if the idea is to actually get to and win the World Series, that means getting past the Los Angeles Dodgers. And that should mean leaving nothing to chance.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
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Trade Proposal: Pittsburgh Pirates get RHP Mason Miller; San Diego Padres get RHP Jared Jones, OF Edward Florentino (MLB No. 27)
Why the Padres Would Do It
It's simple, really: The idea would be to get Jones and hope that he could become for them what Michael King did after the Juan Soto trade.
Jones only has a 4.19 ERA to show for 30 major league starts, and he's only recently returned from an internal brace procedure on his elbow. Yet his stuff and command grade well, to a point where he even has a better Pitching+ score than Paul Skenes. Oh, and he's also 24 and controlled through 2029.
For his part, Florentino is a guy the Padres could groom as a shot in the arm for an offense that has been too lifeless in the last two years. The 19-year-old is a power hitter with good speed.
Why the Pirates Should Do It
The Bucs are out of the playoff money as things stand now, but they'll begin the second half with only a 2.0-game deficit. Time to make a move.
Shoring up a bullpen that has a 4.48 ERA would be a good way to go about it. They specifically have a 4.91 ERA between the seventh and ninth innings, so adding Miller would be akin to putting out a fire by dumping an ocean on it.
It's obviously a lot for the Pirates to give up, but it's past time for the organization to take a big risk. As a reminder, Pittsburgh hasn't won an actual postseason series (i.e., one consisting of at least two games) since the 1979 World Series.
4. Detroit Tigers
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Trade Proposal: Detroit Tigers get RHP Mason Miller; San Diego Padres get RHP Troy Melton, SS Bryce Rainer (MLB No. 72)
Why the Padres Would Do It
Finally, a trade package involving a starter the Padres should actually want.
Melton's 2.27 ERA in 95.0 major league innings overstates how excellent he truly is, but it's not like he's some pretender. The fastball averages 96.0 mph and he throws plenty of strikes. And for San Diego, arguably best of all is that he's just 25 and under club control through 2031.
Rainer was the No. 11 pick in the draft just two years ago, and he's looking just fine after a shoulder injury ended his 2025 season early. He has an .842 OPS, 10 homers and 16 stolen bases through 70 games in the low minors, underscoring a projection as a power/speed type in the majors.
Why the Tigers Should Do It
This is assuming the Tigers will be able to spare Melton, which means assuming that they'll be able to replace him with either Justin Verlander or Jackson Jobe once either or both is healthy.
It also means assuming that the Tigers will not only buy at the August 3 trade deadline, but would be willing to take a big swing. If president of baseball operations Scott Harris is known for anything, it's not that.
And yet, Detroit is 22-14 since June 1 and only 3.5 games out of a wild-card spot despite a 44-52 record. Adding Miller to a bullpen that needs a better closer than Kenley Jansen would be putting the pedal to the medal, which is what Detroit should be doing to make the most of Tarik Skubal's walk year.
3. New York Yankees
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Trade Proposal: New York Yankees get RHP Mason Miller; San Diego Padres get RHP Will Warren, SS Anthony Volpe, OF Spencer Jones
Why the Padres Would Do It
Maybe he's not Michael King, but Warren would be a similar get from the Yankees at least to the extent that he's an immediately usable starter. And he'd come with club control through 2030.
Volpe, meanwhile, might be the most obvious change-of-scenery candidate in all of MLB. He hasn't been the next coming of Derek Jeter in pinstripes. And yet, he's had a roughly 20-20 baseline and he's still just 25 years old. Provided he was truly willing to move to second base, he could start for San Diego tomorrow.
Jones is almost an obligatory throw-in for Yankees trade proposals by now, but for good reason. Everyone knows he swings and misses a lot. But if the Padres somehow reined that habit it, he could give them 30-plus homers annually.
Why the Yankees Should Do It
No need for speculation here. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees "love" the idea of adding Miller to their bullpen.
Yankees relievers lead the league with a 3.04 ERA, but games just never feel safe when the pen is handed a lead. Suffice it to say that would change if Miller had David Bednar and Brent Headrick setting up for him.
The Yankees would otherwise need Max Fried and Carlos Rodón to be healthy if they're going to pull this trade off. If so, only San Diego saying "No" should stop them from doing so.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
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Trade Proposal: Philadelphia Phillies get RHP Mason Miller; San Diego Padres get RHP Gage Wood (MLB No. 35), OF Francisco Renteria (MLB No. 84)
Why the Padres Would Do It
One supposes the Padres could angle for Andrew Painter in a deal with the Phillies, but why gamble on an injury‑marred former top prospect when the real thing is right there?
Wood was the No. 26 pick in the 2025 draft, and his stock has only improved as he's posted a 3.44 ERA with 12.9 strikeouts per nine innings in 16 minor league starts this year. He's at Double-A, and thus not far from MLB.
According to MLB Pipeline, one comp for the 17-year-old Renteria is Konnor Griffin. That feels like a bit much, but it would have to make the Padres wonder if now is a good time to get in early on MLB's next five-tool star.
Why the Phillies Should Do It
Yes, the Phillies need bats. But they just lost Brad Keller to a torn UCL, which almost certainly puts him out for the remainder of this season.
And besides, there's sense in going all-in on pitching as the team's ticket to the World Series. Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler make for an absurd one-two starting punch. If Miller paired with Jhoan Duran, the same would be true of them as a relief duo.
And do we need to bring up the point about how the Phillies' championship window is closing? One would hope everyone gets the gist at this point.
1. Seattle Mariners
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Trade Proposal: Seattle Mariners get RHP Mason Miller; San Diego Padres get RHP George Kirby, 2B/LF Michael Arroyo (MLB No. 91)
Why the Padres Would Do It
It's hard to overstate how bad the Padres need not just a starter, but a good starter. And Kirby is a good starter.
It's looking like he may have peaked in 2023 and 2024, but there's nothing wrong with either the 3.76 ERA or the 4.08 K/BB ratio he has through 18 starts this season. He's still just 28, and not a free agent until after 2028.
Arroyo is a polarizing prospect, largely because nobody knows where he's meant to play on defense. But he has a career .401 OBP in the minors, and enough power to potentially hit 20 home runs in the majors.
Why the Mariners Should Do It
Per Daniel Kramer of MLB.com and others, there's been recent buzz about the Mariners finally being willing to move a starter. A Kirby trade surely isn't the preference, but let's just say that Luis Castillo doesn't get you Mason Miller.
There are also whispers that Kirby will be the hardest of Seattle's homegrown starters to lock up for the long haul. If so, might as well cash him in and hand his spot over to Kade Anderson, who's arguably MLB's top pitching prospect.
As for the larger "Why?" here, the Mariners just plain need another late-inning arm to pair with Andrés Muñoz. They can't do better than Miller in this respect, and his addition would effectively set a plan to ride the league's best run prevention all the way to [fingers crossed] the franchise's first World Series.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
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