San Diego Padres
· 2026-07-10
San Diego Padres reliever Mason Miller addressed the swirling trade rumors ahead of the July deadline, speaking candidly about his future with the club. The Padres, sitting at 46-46 and 9th in the National League after a 10-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 9, are in a tight spot as the deadline looms.
Miller, the hard-throwing right-hander acquired from the Oakland Athletics last winter, didn't dodge the questions. He told reporters he's focused on what he can control — his pitches, his preparation, and helping the Padres win.
"I've heard the noise," Miller said. "But my job is to throw strikes and get outs. Everything else is out of my hands."
The 27-year-old has been a bright spot in a bullpen that's had its ups and downs. His fastball sits in the high 90s, and he's struck out 58 batters in 42 innings this season.
San Diego's front office faces a tough call. The team is exactly .500 at 46-46, good for 9th in the National League. They're on a two-game winning streak after beating Arizona 10-4 on July 9, but they're still chasing a wild-card spot.
Miller is under team control through 2028, making him a valuable asset. But the Padres have needs elsewhere — starting pitching depth and another bat in the lineup. Trading Miller could bring back a haul of prospects or a major-league-ready player.
General manager A.J. Preller has never been shy about making big moves. He's swung deadline deals before, and Miller's name keeps popping up in league-wide chatter.
Miller's numbers tell the story. He's got a 3.21 ERA with 58 strikeouts over 42 innings. Opponents are hitting just .198 against him. His WHIP sits at 1.12.
In the Padres' 10-4 win over the Diamondbacks on July 9, Miller tossed a scoreless eighth inning, striking out two. It was his 12th straight appearance without allowing an earned run.
That kind of performance makes him attractive to contenders. But it also makes him hard for San Diego to part with.
The Padres face the Diamondbacks again on July 10 at Petco Park. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. PT. Miller could be available out of the bullpen again.
But the bigger question is whether he'll still be a Padre after the July 31 trade deadline. Teams like the Dodgers, Braves, and Orioles have been linked to Miller in recent weeks.
For now, Miller says he's blocking out the noise. "I love being here," he said. "San Diego's a great city, great fans. I want to win here."
The next three weeks will decide if that happens.