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The MLB trade deadline has already made headlines, particularly with a significant move between two West Coast teams. The Oakland Athletics have traded their All-Star closer, Mason Miller, along with starting pitcher J.P. Sears, to the San Diego Padres. In return, the Athletics received the third-ranked prospect in all of baseball, along with three minor league pitchers, according to multiple sources.
Earlier this week, speculation around Miller’s potential trade began to circulate. By late Wednesday, it was confirmed that the Padres were actively pursuing him.
A Bold Move for the Padres
This trade comes at a steep cost for the Padres, but given their current position, it’s a calculated risk. They sit three games ahead for the final wild card spot and are only three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race.
Mason Miller is undeniably one of the standout pitchers in Major League Baseball. He made his MLB debut in 2023 but had already made waves in the previous year with an impressive 2.49 ERA and a staggering 14.4 strikeouts per nine innings. His performance earned him an All-Star nod during his first full season in the majors. This year, he has been clocked throwing as fast as 104.1 mph, averaging 101.1 mph, making him the fastest pitcher in the league. His strikeout percentage of 39.1% is the highest in MLB, although he does rank in the bottom 10% in terms of walk rate, with an elevated ERA of 3.76 compared to last season.
Future Stars in the Trade
The Padres have secured a talented closer who won’t even reach arbitration until after next season, justifying the substantial return the Athletics received. At the forefront of this trade is shortstop Leo De Vries, an 18-year-old sensation from the Dominican Republic. De Vries signed with the Padres as a top international prospect for $4.2 million last year and quickly ascended to become a highly regarded player. He recently represented San Diego in the MLB All-Star Futures Game held in Atlanta.
As we approach the trade deadline, it seems to be shaping up as a pivotal moment for relievers in the league, with Mason Miller leading the pack.
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