The San Diego Padres are 2 1/2 games out of a wild card spot entering play on Tuesday and could look to deal Mason Miller.
Miller is the best reliever in the game, and trading him would be indicative of selling. However, the Padres are in a weird spot where they need to acquire starting pitching while also adding assets for the future. As good as Miller is, if the Padres do not add some starting pitching, he won't be pitching in October for them anyway. Still, there is some doubt about whether the Padres would actually part ways with him.
"Mason Miller is definitely available," MLB insider Jeff Passan said on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesday.
Passan also noted that while he is available, it does not mean A.J. Pellar will pull the trigger on a deal just one year after adding him. Miller is still a player who can help the Padres win right now, but the team has to think about the future as well.
Trading Miller could net the Padres a haul of prospects to set them up for the future, while also netting them a starting pitcher to use this year and get into the postseason. Miller himself is irreplaceable, but the Padres do have other relievers on the roster capable of closing games. Although none will be as automatic as Miller.
Miller has a National League-best 25 saves and has a 0.89 ERA through 39 games. His 16.6 strikeouts per nine innings are unbelievable, and if he comes into a game in the ninth inning with a lead, the Padres can pretty much chalk it up as a win. Many teams would love to have a player like that, and Passan noted that the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners could be interested teams.