Padres Swing Huge Trade for Mason Miller, JP Sears: Analyzing Affect on Dylan Cease, World Series Goals
On Wednesday night, MLB trade rumors swirled that the general manager, AJ Preller, was being aggressive in pursuit of Athletics stud closer Mason Miller. Well, hours before Thursday's deadline, the Pads pulled off a blockbuster deal for the 26-year-old fireballer.
In the reported trade, San Diego gets Miller and starting pitcher JP Sears. In exchange, they are sending the A's top prospect, Leo De Vries. A player who is ranked as the third best in all of baseball on MLB.com's latest prospect rankings. Reports suggested the A's wanted a top 25-level prospect, and they landed an elite youngster in the deal.
Let's look at what the blockbuster trade means for the Padres before the MLB trade deadline hits, and their aspirations to knock off the Los Angeles Dodgers and get to the World Series this fall.
Dylan Cease seems like a lock to be traded next
Over the last week, speculation has grown that Dylan Cease could be on his way out. Heading into today's trade deadline, new rumors pointed to the Houston Astros having him at the top of their trade wish list. What makes the Cease trade speculation fascinating is that San Diego is in the thick of the Wild Card race and just three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.
Moving him would seem very risky. Because, despite a down season, he could get hot and be an ace-level pitcher down the stretch. However, with the addition of JP Sears, they get a solid veteran replacement to fill his spot. There have also been rumors that they have looked into a trade for Charlie Morton. A 41-year-old who is having a down year but is very good in the postseason.
Despite his disappointing numbers this season, Cease is a big addition for interested teams like the Astros. If the Padres feel they could sure up other areas on the roster, they could get a very nice return for the 2022 AL Cy Young runner-up. The club moving the pitcher today seems like a lock.
Padres set up to be an even bigger threat to Dodgers in playoffs
The Padres had one of the best pens in baseball. Closer Robert Suarez anchors a group that currently has a league-leading 2.99 ERA. A case could be made that upgrading that part of the roster was not necessary. However, the Dodgers showed last fall that an elite bullpen can help you win a championship. With a player that averages over 101 MPH on his fastball, San Diego now has the undisputed best pen in MLB.
It also must be noted that some in the game believe Miller has potential as a top-end starting pitcher in his future. While giving up a top prospect for a reliever seems absurd, if San Diego believes he can be converted into an All-Star-level starter like many others have been in recent years (see Garrett Crochet), it is a very good short-term and long-term move.
As for the now and their goal to get back to the World Series for the first time since 1998, Sears is the key addition in the move. It gives them far more flexibility to find the right return for Cease. He will have a solid amount of suitors. The return in a trade for him could really round out the roster and make the Padres a serious problem for the Dodgers in the fall.
Related Headlines
MLB Rumors: Yankees Battling Red Sox for Ace Pitcher Expected To Be Moved Before 5 PM ET
New Orleans Saints Cut Quarterback Before First Preseason Game
Verstappen Ends Rumors, stays with Red Bull. . . for now
Cincinnati Bengals Acquire Former First-Round Pick
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Former Yankees pitcher Lance Lynn defends Aaron Boone — this is what you aren't seeing
Aaron Boone has been catching all kinds of heat for the Yankees' recent struggles, but former pitcher Lance Lynn is stepping to the manager's defense. 'If it needs to be addressed, he is addressing it,' the longtime pitcher said Monday on the 'Foul Territory' podcast. 'He's not gonna talk through the media, he's not gonna tell you what's going on in the clubhouse. He played the game, he played at a very high level. He knows how it works. Whatever happens in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse.' Boone has caught blowback from fans who are frustrated that he has not held his players more accountable after mistakes, but Lynn is certain that the manager is doing his job – behind closed doors. Advertisement 'Positive he's addressing everything that's going wrong with the players, and the players are addressing it too, but they're not gonna tell you about it,' Lynn said. 'Because the more that gets out in New York, the worse it gets.' Lynn, who enjoyed a 15-year MLB career, played for Boone on the Yankees in 2018 after getting traded midway through that season. Lance Lynn defended Aaron Boone on the 'Foul Territory' podcast. @FoulTerritoryTV/X Advertisement The Yankees are on a four-game skid and are 8-19 in their 27 games, dropping them to third place in the American League East. But no matter the struggles, Lynn said he sees no benefit in the manager walking into a press conference and lambasting his players. 'They would rather you say, 'Oh, you're not doing enough than 'Oh, he's blowing people up,' and there's more of a story there and things leaking out of the clubhouse, and that causes more problems than what's going on,' Lynn said. 'They know what's wrong, they know how to fix it and they've addressed it. But the problem with the fans and the media and all that, they want to know what's said and how it was said. Advertisement 'And we all know from the best clubhouses we've been in, they stay in-house and no one knows what's going on and you write it yourself.' The Yankees are on a four-game losing streak. JASON SZENES/ NY POST Lynn was a consistently impactful starter in his long career, and he notched All-Star appearances with the Cardinals in 2012 and with the White Sox in 2021. He also won the World Series with St. Louis in 2011.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Dodgers Drop Vague Injury Update on Postseason Hero From Last Season
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Dodgers have dealt with injuries all season. They are getting thinner in the infield and just dropped a vague update on one of their injured players. The Dodgers placed Tommy Edman on the injured list with a sprained ankle, Hyeseong Kim is on the injured list with a shoulder injury and Kiké Hernández is on the injured list with elbow inflammation. Roberts provided an update on Hernández, who has not played since July 5. "Dave Roberts said Dodgers are 'hopeful' Kiké Hernández returns this season but it's not a guarantee," Dodger Blue's Matthew Moreno wrote on X. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 20: Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pulls Clayton Kershaw #22 as Dalton Rushing #68 looks on in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium... LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 20: Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pulls Clayton Kershaw #22 as Dalton Rushing #68 looks on in the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium on July 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. More Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images Kim and Edman's injuries have put the Dodgers in a tough spot. Alex Freeland and Miguel Rojas are seeing more opportunities, but Max Muncy's return should give them another reliable option. If Hernández can return, he'd be an option for them in the outfield and infield. That would be a big help, considering the timeline for Edman is less clear. Hernández is hitting just .195 this season, but his value to the team is in his versatility and ability to play his best in October. Last postseason, he slashed .294/.357/.451. He was a key player in the Dodgers' World Series run. He had two home runs in the postseason and collected six RBIs. He ended up starting 13 games for the team and had two multi-hit games in the World Series. Getting him back could be a huge boost in October. He has a .857 career OPS in the postseason and 15 home runs. More MLB: Yankees Make Abrupt Jake Bird Roster Decision Following Brutal Loss
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
MLB Power Rankings: Brewers mash their way to the top, Red Sox surging in AL playoff race
Featured in this week's MLB Power Rankings, we look at the fallout from the recent trade deadline, Kyle Schwarber's power explosion, the Red Sox and Yankees headed in different directions, Kyle Stowers' emergence, hope for the White Sox, and much more. (Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook) Let's get started! Matthew Pouliot, Note: Rankings are from the morning of Tuesday, August 5. Last week: 4 The Brewers have earned the No. 1 spot after winning two out of three from the Cubs, absolutely destroying the Nationals over the weekend, and winning the series opener with the Braves on Monday. The @Brewers racked up 56 hits over their three games against the Nationals this weekend. It's the most hits by an NL team in a three-game series since the Brooklyn Dodgers collected 57 hits against the Pirates from June 23-25, 1950. People keep asking what the Brewers' secret sauce is when it's quite obviously cheese curds. Last week: 2 It feels like the Cubs are a team where a couple of months from now we'll be asking why they didn't do more at the deadline. The team's big rotation acquisition, Mike Soroka, is headed to the injured list after leaving his Cubs debut with shoulder discomfort. Last week: 5 Max Muncy made his much-needed return to the Dodgers' lineup on Monday after missing a month with a knee injury. Believe it or not, the club ranked last in the majors in runs during that time. Last week: 1 A two-homer game from Bichette at Coors Field. I've seen this episode before. 2 HR, 6 RBI ... and counting! Have a night, Bo Bichette 😤 After an injury-plagued 2024 season, Bo Bichette has returned to form this season. He's leading the majors in hits and setting himself for a nice payday this winter. Last week: 6 The Tigers have righted the ship somewhat with six wins in their last eight games. Like many contenders, the Tigers prioritized their bullpen at the deadline, including new closer Kyle Finnegan from the Nationals. Last week: 7 Kyle Schwarber cannot be stopped. With a pair of blasts on Monday, the 32-year-old slugger has now 40 homers for the season and 10 in 16 games since the All-Star break. The pleas to re-sign him are only getting louder in Philadelphia. Last week: 11 The Red Sox are another team where you could argue they should have done more at the trade deadline, but that's not stopping them from being the hottest team in baseball. Winners of six straight, they now hold the top spot in the Wild Card standings. Last week: 3 You can build a great back-end of the bullpen — which the Mets have done — but it's still a problem if your starters can't complete six innings on a regular basis. Last week: 8 The Astros have lost eight out of their last 11 games, but the good vibes are still (mostly) flowing from Carlos Correa's return. Carlos Correa's first homer with the Astros since 2021 traveled 411 feet with a 109.5 mph exit velocity Looking forward to seeing the reception when Correa plays his first home game back in Houston next Monday. Last week: 9 A.J. Preller, you beautiful maniac. Of course the Padres had to go crazy at the trade deadline, not just adding to a dominant bullpen with Mason Miller while trading their top prospect, but also upgrading their top-heavy lineup with Ryan O'Hearn and Ramón Laureano. Last week: 12 The Mariners did exactly what they needed to do at the deadline, grabbing Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suárez to strengthen their lineup and left-hander Caleb Ferguson to lengthen their bullpen. The club took three out of four from the Rangers over the weekend and should be considered a serious threat to take down the Astros. Last week: 10 The Yankees did the right thing by prioritizing their bullpen at the deadline, but so far it has been nothing short of a disaster. Friday's blowup was an all-timer, the bullpen came up short again on Monday against the Rangers as Devin Williams served up a game-tying homer in the ninth before recent acquisition Jake Bird gave up a walk-off homer to Josh Jung in the 10th. At least Aaron Judge is coming back? Last week: 13 The Rangers are clearly betting on improvements from their offense, as they focused on their rotation (Merrill Kelly) and bullpen (Phil Maton, Danny Coulombe) at the trade deadline last week. Josh Jung, who hit a walk-off homer on Monday, is part of that bet. He's hitting .382 (13-for-34) with three homers and eight RBI since returning from the minors. Last week: 14 The Reds took on Ke'Bryan Hayes entire contract ($36 million from 2026-2019, with a $6 million buyout on $12 million club option for 2030) in their trade with the Pirates last week. There's no doubt that Hayes can pick it at third base, but only Christian Vazquez has a lower OPS than Hayes (.574) among players with at least 500 plate appearances dating back to the start of last season. Last week: 18 Nic Enright secured his first save on Monday, a significant milestone for someone who is battling lymphoma. Nic Enright, you are an inspiration.#GuardsBall | #GuardiWins Last week: 19 The Royals were characterized as a buyer coming out of the trade deadline. And to a certain extent, they were. But the pitchers they acquired — Bailey Falter, Ryan Berger, Stephen Kolek — all come with multiple years of control. Adding in the extension to Seth Lugo and they are clearly thinking about both 2025 and beyond. Last week: 23 The Marlins swept the Yankees over the weekend and NL Player of the Month Kyle Stowers was right in the middle of it with a pair of homers. UNCONSCIOUS Kyle Stowers is your National League Player of the Month for July 😤 Last week: 15 I could talk about the Giants' trade deadline approach here, but the real headliner is the reality that the San Francisco Giants and the New York Giants really do get together for dinner. Picnic or relay race next year? @SFGiants Last week: 16 Masyn Winn is tops in the majors in Outs Above Average, and if you watch this play from last week, you'll know why. SS Masyn Winn looked like the franchise player the #STLCards desperately need him to become on this play. He went behind 3B Nolan Gorman, fielded a slow roller and made a perfect, off-balanced throw to retire #Padres star Luis Arraez. Last week: 21 Why are you the way that you are? The Angels actually bought at the trade deadline for some reason, acquiring relievers Luis Garcia and Andrew Chafin. Last week: 17 The Rays have been one of the worst teams in MLB over the past month, but they cooked up a cosmic gumbo of buying and selling at the trade deadline. Similar to what the Royals did with some of their moves, the Rays' acquisition of reliever Griffin Jax is about now and future seasons. Last week: 20 While this season hasn't worked out as hoped for the Diamondbacks, they did a nice job loading up on prospects while trading Merrill Kelly, Eugenio Suárez, Josh Naylor, Shelby Miller, Jordan Montgomery, and Randal Grichuk. No team landed more new talent on its Top 30 Prospects list than the @Dbacks. Biggest Trade Deadline hauls: Last week: 24 A lost year for Grayson Rodriguez is officially in the books. The young right-hander is scheduled for elbow dibridement surgery next week and could be sidelined through the early part of next season as well. Figuring out the pitching side is of utmost importance for Baltimore going forward. Last week: 26 Behold, the only trophy the Braves will be lifting this season. What a day for Eli White!#SpeedwayClassic Because the Braves' season continues to be cursed, Austin Riley is headed back to the injured list with an abdominal strain. Last week: 25 Having a great closer is quite simply a luxury for a non-contender, so you can't fault the A's for trading Mason Miller and J.P Sears, especially when you get one of the game's top prospects in return. It will be fun to see De Vries in Sacramento/Las Vegas/a destination to be named later in a couple of years. Last week: 27 The Pirates made some notable moves last week (Ke'Bryan Hayes, David Bednar), but it's the ones they didn't make (impending free agents Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Tommy Pham, and Andrew Heaney) which were especially confusing. Last week: 22 If you were a Twin, you probably got traded last week. And that goes for Tyler and Trevor Rogers, as well. You have to feel for Twins fans. Hopefully there's a soft landing with their sale situation in the days ahead. Last week: 28 The Nationals have given up at least seven runs in each of their last five games. The Dog Days of Summer, indeed. Last week: 29 This is what it's all about for the White Sox right now. Four home runs today for the White Sox: Kyle Teel Colson Montgomery Miguel Vargas Edgar Quero Montgomery, in particular, has been the most exciting of late. He's now homered seven times in his last 11 games. Last week: 30 Not only did this three-run homer from Jordan Beck end Paul Skenes' 18-inning scoreless streak, but it was also the first time Skenes had given up a home run of more than two runs in the majors. So the Rockies have that going for them, which is nice. 💥HONCHO HOMER
