San Diego Padres Add Fourth All-Star Reliever to Lineup
The San Diego Padres are witnessing a stellar surge as they went into the 2025 MLB trade deadline, already boasting of three All-Star relievers in their bullpen. Now, they’ve added a fourth to their mix. Cementing their formidable lineup, the Padres secured Athletics closer Mason Miller and starting pitcher JP Sears on a fine Thursday morning. Nonetheless, this addition cost them a few of their budding talents, with the notable exit of young shortstop and widely recognised top-10 prospect Leo De Vries.
Our thoughts on Mason Miller’s transfer to the Padres go as follows. The thought of facing the Padres’ bullpen would be nothing less than daunting. Miller’s consistent performances remain commendable with the A’s, with a 3.76 ERA and a 59.18 K-BB ratio in 38 1/3 innings. His walking average is 4.2 hitters per nine innings, but he’s yet a formidable force on the field, which should be enhanced because his move away from Sutter Health Park.
The 2024 All-Star, Miller, now joins the San Diego Padres’ bullpen, which stars the likes of Robert Suarez (30 saves and a 3.43 ERA), Jason Adam (1.89 ERA and 1.7 bWAR), and Adrián Morejón (50-9 K-BB ratio and 1.63 ERA in 49 2/3 innings). Rivals of the Padres in future weeks may encounter quite a challenge. Sears, aged 29, holds a record of 7-9, 4.95 ERA, and a 97-29 K-BB ratio in 111 innings. It’s yet uncertain as to whether the Padres plan to utilise him as a long reliever, or he will sustain his role as a starter.
As for the potential NL West champion San Diego Padres? The preseason speculation about Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers sweeping another NL West title could now find a contender. As of Thursday, the Padres lag just three games behind the first place, stirring quite an intrigue in the games ahead.
Despite their 2-5 record against the Dodgers, the Padres have twin three-match series with their NL West nemesis scheduled later in the month. August 15-17 will see the Dodgers hosting the Padres before these two clubs go head-to-head again in San Diego the following week.
Our sympathies go out to the fans of A’s. As the pattern goes, amid a not-so-stellar season, the Athletics let go of a crowd favourite. It seemed somewhat predictable that the A’s would end their association with Miller, even though his contract with the team extended till 2029.
In summary, the A’s stand 15 games below .500 while their matches are held in a minor league stadium. Luis Severino, their acquisition during the offseason, practically implored for a trade, as he was reluctant to pitch in such a stadium. As of now, their transition to Las Vegas seems to have no immediate timeline.
