Add The California Post on Google The 2026 MLB season has unfurled into one of the most disappointing seasons for the San Diego Padres.
The Padres have one of the worst offenses in the league as well as a depleted starting rotation. The campaign has been far from a joyride for San Diego as the team is a whopping 15 games behind first-place in the division.
It remains to be seen whether the Padres will be buyers or sellers at this summer’s trade deadline. Perhaps, they could even be both.
But there’s one question everyone wants to know the answer to.
“Yes, they should,” former general manager Steve Phillips said on MLB Now.
“If the Padres think they’re in it, and they’re gonna go for it, they need starting pitching and offense. Their surplus is bullpen.
“And Mason Miller is the biggest chip that they have…The Padres have to do that if they want try and get back in it this year.”
Entering Thursday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Miller is sporting a 0.98 ERA with 67 strikeouts across 36.2 innings pitched this season. His red, hot start to 2026 inserted him into the early Cy Young conversations.
Miller’s dominance on the mound this season has unfortunately been overshadowed by the Padres’ downward spiral. The Friars have lost nine of their last 10 games and are 4.5 games back an NL Wild-Card spot.
President of baseball operations A.J. Preller made the deal of the deadline last summer when the Padres acquired Mason Miller from the Athletics. But just one year later, the Padres could realistically part ways with Miller.
Realistically, trading Miller could be beneficial for both sides. The Padres could get a starting pitcher and bat in return for the closer and Miller would get a chance to dominate with another team.
Only a few weeks remain for the Padres to mull over options as the trade deadline quickly approaches.
