OA get trade calls early on close Mason Miller, writes Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. While the team is at least open to discussions, Rosenthal reports that no one has come close to what is understood to be a big question.
Miller was one of the players who came out of the league in 2024. It certainly didn't come off — he was widely considered a top 100 prospect two years ago — but the second-year righty is already one of the top players. the best relievers in the game. Miller gave up two runs in his first appearance of the season against the Rangers. He has not scored in 12 games since then, and that undermines his dominance.
The 25-year-old has recorded multiple strikeouts in all but two of his outings. He has struck out 33 of the 60 batters he has faced. That's a 55% rate. Among pitchers with at least 10 innings, Cincinnati Fernando Cruz ranked second with 47.3%. Only four relievers – Devin Williams (during the 2020 shortened program), Aroldis Chapman (2014), Craig Kimbrel (2012) and Edwin Díaz (2022) – once maintained a strikeout rate north of 50% over a full season. Miller struck out over 21% of his pitches, a mark slightly surpassed by Cruz. He paired that impressive streak with solid control, striking out just four walks without hitting a batter.
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It is not difficult to understand why the opponents have not yet had any success in communication. Miller's stuff is off the charts. His fastball average 100.8 MPH and can get into the 103-104 MPH range at its high end. He paired it with an upper 80s slide that drew mixed reviews or better from prospective testers and was almost untouchable. Opponents came up empty about half the time they swung at both offerings.
The entire bullpen will be greatly improved with Miller at the end. It's no surprise that teams would want to get him out of Oakland and that the A's would need a big haul to consider it. In addition to Miller's reign, he is under the control of an affordable club for years to come. He entered 2024 with less than one season of MLB service. He is not eligible for free agency until the end of the 2029 campaign. Miller is a key contender for a four-time Super Two title, but that won't start until after next season.
The A's are still in the middle of a rebuild despite an 18-21 start. They are very unlikely to join the playoff conversation this year, although they certainly expect to be a legitimate contender within Miller's window of control. A player of this type who has five years of control over the market is practically unheard of.
However, Miller's form is at least partially clouded by a shocking injury history. He missed the minors in 2022 due to shoulder problems. However, the A's called him up early last season to work in the rotation. Miller made four starts before being diagnosed with a UCL sprain in his elbow. It was postponed to September. The A's used him out of the bullpen for 2-3 inning stints when he returned.
GM David Forst announced at the beginning of last season that the A's would move Miller at the end of the season in an effort to keep him healthy. They are adamant that they are not against extending him to start again in 1925, although he may end up being admirable as the team chooses not to interfere with success.
No less stress is placed on the arm of a pitcher who throws as hard as Miller does. The front office may have some concerns about him getting hurt again. That would be a big argument for considering a true trade, though Miller also clearly has the ability to be a franchise building block. That's especially true if the A's are willing to move him back into the rotation in 2025.
Significant trades early in the season are rare, though the Padres and Marlins are in the running. Luis Arraez exchange last week. Teams will continue to try to tempt the A's as the deadline approaches. Miller will be their most important trade chip, while the players are interested Paul Blackburn, Brent Rooker, Ross Stripling again Alex Wood it can attract attention.
Speaking of speculation, Lucas Erceg It may also emerge as one of the most interesting resources on the market. A former third baseman, Erect was a late convert to the A's who acquired him from the Brewers in a minor trade nearly a year ago. While he struggled to a 4.75 ERA over 55 innings as a rookie, he has been a key arm for captain Mark Kotsay's 2024 high school. Erceg managed 22 strikeouts in 15 frames of 3.60 ERA ball. His fastball sits at 98-99 MPH.
Erceg also has six years under his belt, so there is no urgency for the A's to move him. He's still 29 years old and not quite as strong as Miller, though, so he's unlikely to be a big long-term piece coming out of the rebuild.
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