Padres land A's closer Mason Miller in blockbuster deal for top prospect
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Mason Miller pitching for the A's in Texas. Photo: Sam Hodde/Getty Images
The San Diego Padres completed five moves before the MLB trade deadline Thursday, including a blockbuster deal for a new closer.
Why it matters: The Padres and general manager A.J. Preller once again showed they're focused on winning with the team's current core.
Driving the news: Preller stunned the league by acquiring ace reliever Mason Miller and lefty starter JP Sears from the A's.
- He traded away Leo De Vries, an 18-year-old shortstop and the No. 3 overall prospect in baseball, and three pitching prospects.
- In a separate move, the Padres added catcher Freddy Fermin from Kansas City for pitchers Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek.
- Late in the day, Preller flipped prospects for Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan O'Hearn and outfielder Ramon Laureano, Toronto Blue Jays infielder Will Wagner and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Nestor Cortes.
The intrigue: De Vries is by far the top prospect any team moved at the deadline, reinforcing Preller's reputation for risky moves.
- In 2022, he acquired outfielder Juan Soto for a haul of prospects, two of whom are now All-Stars and a third who is just below that level.
State of play: Miller — a superstar with an electric fastball that regularly hits 100 mph — fortifies a bullpen that was already among the league's best, solidifying it as the team's primary weapon headed into the stretch run.
- He is under contract, and affordable, through 2029, and reports suggest the Padres may transition him into the rotation in the future.
- Sears has been a steady if unspectacular starter with the A's and should be a dependable option for a rotation counting on Michael King and Yu Darvish returning to full health.
- O'Hearn and Laureano are both impact bats who improve the team's lineup, while Wagner is a versatile bench piece.
- Cortes was a valuable starter for the New York Yankees last season, but has missed most of this year to injury. He's expected to return in August.
- Fermin brings hope for improved offensive production at catcher, the lineup's biggest hole this season.
Between the lines: The team did not trade closer Robert Suarez or starting pitcher and pending free agent Dylan Cease, leaving them both in the fold for a stretch run.
The bottom line: The Padres paid a steep price, but addressed their needs in a mid-season roster overhaul that shows Preller is committed to winning now, leaving future concerns for another day.