It's the San Diego Padres' world and we're just living in it. With less than two weeks until the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline, it's clear the Padres could be one of the most compelling teams willing to wheel and deal.
That's because San Diego could be shopping two-time All-Star closer Mason Miller.
Here's the latest from the rumor mill.
ESPN's Jeff Passan and Buster Olney say the Padres trading Miller is "tantalizing."
"They could leverage the lack of availability for other elite closers into a bonanza of a return," the pair reported Wednesday.
Indeed, with the Red Sox riding a 14-game winning streak, it's become unlikely Boston will trade All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, making Miller the best available relief arm. If he's available at all.
The Padres are just two games out in the National League Wild Card standings and FanGraphs gives them an 11.6% chance of making the playoffs.
But USA Today's Bob Nightengale isn't buying that and predicts Miller will be packing his bags.
"Simply, he’s too valuable to sit around and rot in the bullpen, and the Padres could use their return to bolster their woefully thin rotation," Nightengale reported Tuesday.
On the flip side, FanSided's Robert Murray called the Padres a trade deadline buyer rather than seller.
"I can’t see AJ Preller ... deciding to sell," Murray reported Wednesday.
"On that topic: I’m skeptical that San Diego trades Mason Miller," Murray added. "Preller coveted Miller, parting with Leo De Vries, a top-two prospect in baseball, to land him at last year's trade deadline.
"Miller has been excellent this season and exceeded their already high expectations. All that for Preller to trade him just 12 months later? Color me skeptical," Murray concluded.
The 27-year-old Miller is tied for second in the majors this season with 25 saves. Even better, the right-hander comes with three years of arbitration eligibility remaining, which means he can't hit the open market until the conclusion of the 2029 season.