The Padres have never been shy to push their chips in. San Diego did that again on deadline day, as the Padres acquired All-Star closer Mason Miller from the Athletics via trade. Additionally, JP Sears will go to San Diego as part of the deal. However, the price was steep. The headliner going the other way is Leo De Vries, the 18-year-old who was arguably the premier prospect in the Padres’ system.

The Padres’ Return

• RP Mason Miller (3.76 ERA, 59 K over 38 IP)
• SP JP Sears (4.95 ERA, 97 K over 111 IP)

Mason Miller went from being a third-round pick out of Gardner-Webb to a Major League All-Star in the matter of three years.

Miller, originally a starting pitcher, made his MLB debut as a starter in 2023. He pitched well, striking out 38 over 33.1 IP as a rookie. However, with injury concerns, the Athletics shifted Miller to the bullpen, a move that worked very well over the last two seasons.

The 26-year-old struck out 104 over 65 frames last season and notched 28 saves. He was virtually unhittable, thanks to a power, plus-plus fastball that averaged 100.9 MPH, playing up significantly compared to his time as a starting pitcher in 2023.

This season, Miller has gotten hit around a bit more (5.3 Barrel/PA), as well as struggling with walks. Still, he ranked in the top five percent of the league in both chases and whiffs (35.6% and 42.8%, respectively).

Standing at 6’5” and 200 pounds, Miller is primarily a two-pitch pitcher. Miler largely uses his blowaway fastball, as well as a sharp high-80s slider with tight break and movement.

Miller does have other pitches in his pocket. He’ll occasionally use a low-90s changeup, a pitch that saw more work as a starter two seasons ago. Additionally, he threw a cutter a little over 12% of the time two years ago.

The other piece going to San Diego is JP Sears, acquired three years ago from the Yankees in the Frankie Montas trade.

Sears, a left-hander, is very different compared to Miller. The 29-year-old throws two fastballs, a four-seamer and a two-seamer, and sits in the low-90s with both offerings. Additionally, he’ll try to keep hitters off balance with a changeup, slider, and sweeper.

His secondary stuff is good. The changeup gets more sinking and running action compared to the league average, and he’s had good success with his sweeper, a tough pitch to pick up, even in the zone.

Sears is a heavy fly-ball pitcher. His ground-ball rate has been below 40% each of the last three seasons.

Miller is controllable for the next four seasons after 2025. Sears has three more years of control past this season.

The Athletics’ Return

• SS Leo De Vries
• Three Pitchers

The Padres signed infielder Leo De Vries, considered the best international prospect available in 2024, to a $4.2MM signing bonus. That move came just a year after the team landed highly-touted catcher Ethan Salas for $5.6MM.

Thus far, De Vries has proven himself to be not just worth the money but also one of the top 10 to 15 prospects in all of Major League Baseball.

De Vries held his own as a 17-year-old in A-ball last season, as he slashed .237/.361/.441 (.802 OPS) with 11 home runs and 36 extra-base hits with Lake Elsinore. This season, in Fort Wayne (A+), De Vries posted another strong season, with eight home runs and 31 extra-base hits over 82 games as an 18-year-old.

The 18-year-old works pitchers, as he averaged over four pitches per plate appearance this season. He’s also shown very good power and strength for a player who won’t turn 20 until the fall of next year. Not too bad for a player who’s roughly the same age as players drafted this year.

A switch-hitter, De Vries has hit better against right-handers (.806 OPS) compared to left-handers (.646 OPS).

Additionally, three pitchers are reportedly part of the deal. Those pitchers are Braden Nett, a Double-A pitcher with 86 strikeouts over 74 innings, Henry Baez, and Eduarniel Nunez. Opposing hitters have only hit .196 off Baez in Double-A this season. Nunez is a hard-thrower who sits in the upper-90s with his fastball, and made his MLB debut earlier this season.

Analysis

This is likely the biggest trade we’ll see this deadline.

San Diego parted with Leo De Vries, arguably the best prospect in their system, and as noted earlier, one of the top 20 prospects in the game today. Not to mention, two very good pitching prospects in Braden Nett and Henry Baez, both of whom are close to MLB-ready.

The Padres, meanwhile, add yet another powerful relief arm in Miller, plus starter JP Sears. Both pitchers came with a hefty price but for the Padres, controlability matters.

San Diego is set to lose Dylan Cease and Michael King to free agency this winter, making those two incredibly valuable. Especially when taking into account the Padres, before the trade, had reported interest in moving Miller back to the rotation.

If or when that move does happen, that would give the Padres two cheaper starting pitchers to replace Cease & King, and keep things moving in San Diego. With their core of Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill locked up, the Padres are pushing to keep their window open.

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