The best closer in baseball could have a new home before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Rival executives believe the San Diego Padres will move Mason Miller because the team will be motivated to sell and buy simultaneously, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
The Padres acquired the two-time All-Star at last year's deadline in a deal that was headlined by top prospect Leo De Vries heading to the Athletics. The 19-year-old shortstop is now the minor leagues' second-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
San Diego is expected to seek improvements for its offense, which has scored the fourth-fewest runs due to the fourth-worst wRC+ (92) in baseball. Entering Monday, the team sits 2.5 games out of the NL's final wild-card spot with a minus-32 run differential.
Miller, who's under club control through 2029, is considered the Padres' best trade chip.
The 27-year-old owns a 0.89 ERA with 0.52 FIP, 16.6 K/9, and an NL-leading 25 saves across 39 appearances this season. He's accumulated a 2.5 fWAR, which is the best mark among MLB relievers.
