Closing pitcher Mason Miller was the only representative for the San Diego Padres at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. In the National League's 4-0 loss, he tossed 0.1 innings, striking outChicago White Soxfirst baseman Munetaka Murakami with a 102-mile-per-hour fastball.
While he wasn't on the field for very long, it was a representation of his dominance this season. The right-hander has appeared in 38 games, accumulating a 0.91 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, 72 strikeouts, and an opponent batting average of .134.
Despite his elite level of play, it hasn't been enough for the Padres to hold a postseason spot at the All-Star break. San Diego is 48-48, 12.5 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and 3.5 games back from a wild card spot.
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With the trade deadline on Aug. 3 and less than a month away, he has been consistently floated as a trade piece if the Padres opt to sell. When speaking to The San Diego Union-Tribune's Kevin Acee, Miller addressed those rumors, clarifying he remained focused on helping his team.
“I’m happy with the Padres and the team we have,” Miller said. “Obviously, we haven’t played up to expectations put on us or that we had. We’ll see how the rest of this month shapes up. … A lot of teams would probably love to have me on their team. I’m happy with the Padres, and I’m looking forward to winning games with them.”
He's done as much as he can up to this point. Miller's 25 saves are the most in the National League and tied for the second-most in MLB, behind Cade Smith (28) of the Cleveland Guardians.
While his dominance can't be ignored, neither can his contract situation, which makes him even more enticing. The 27-year-old still has three more seasons of arbitration and isn't set to hit free agency until 2030.
With elite numbers on the mound and several affordable years of team control, Miller will remain one of the most sought-after players at the deadline. Whether or not the Padres want to move on will remain to be seen.
