The San Diego Padres on Thursday acquired hard-throwing closer Mason Miller and left-hander J.P. Sears in a deal with the Oakland Athletics, adding major upgrades to their pitching staff in a trade deadline blockbuster.
The Padres gave up an impressive package of prospects, sending highly regarded shortstop Leo de Vries, and right-handed pitchers Henry Baez, Braden Nett and Eduarniel Nunez to the A’s.
San Diego general manager A.J. Preller was his usual aggressive self at the deadline, trading a big chunk of his thin farm system’s best talent to acquire Miller, one of the majors’ most dynamic relievers, and dependable starter Sears.
Photo: AP
The Padres entered Thursday in the National League’s final wild-card spot at 60-49 after sweeping the New York Mets on Wednesday for their fifth consecutive win overall. San Diego trailed defending World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers (63-46) by just three games in the NL West and Preller clearly believes that his veteran core has World Series potential.
The 26-year-old Miller has 20 saves in 23 opportunities, a 3.76 ERA and 59 strikeouts for the A’s this season. He was an All-Star last year and is under team control through the 2029 season.
San Diego already had one of the majors’ best bullpens anchored by two All-Stars: closer Robert Suarez and setup man Jason Adam.
Photo: Steven Bisig / Imagn Images
Suarez, who leads the majors with 30 saves, featured in trade rumors throughout last month because he can reach free agency this winter.
However, Preller paid a hefty price for Miller: The 18-year-old De Vries is one of the highest-rated prospects in the MLB — ranked No. 3 by MLB.com — and the jewel of a San Diego farm system depleted by years of Preller’s aggressive dealing.
The switch-hitting De Vries, who spent this season at High-A Fort Wayne after the Padres signed him out of the Dominican Republic in January last year, pairs exceptional plate discipline and the potential to develop significant power with above-average fielding talent.
Baez and Nett are also solid prospects with major-league potential, while Nunez made his major-league debut with four appearances for the Padres last month.
Sears will be an option for the San Diego rotation, particularly if Preller decides to deal inconsistent right-hander Dylan Cease, who is also to hit free agency this winter.
The 29-year-old Sears is 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA this season, striking out 95 batters over 22 starts.
On the field, Cal Raleigh homered, rookie Cole Young also went deep and George Kirby pitched six strong innings as the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 6-0 in Seattle.
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Marcell Ozuna’s sacrifice fly drove in Matt Olson with the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as the visiting Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-11.
In New York, Ben Rice hit a three-run homer in the second inning after Giancarlo Stanton blasted a two-run shot in the first as the New York Yankees raced out to a seven-run lead and recorded a 7-4 victory over the sliding Tampa Bay Rays.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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