Yankees Show Interest in Mason Miller

PHILADELPHIA — The Yankees are known for actively looking for relief pitchers and they remain competitive, often willing to spend big when needed.

Mason Miller has caught wind of some buzz—more so last year, he mentions—about the Yankees eyeing him for a potential trade.

“The rumors are true,” Miller said during All-Star Media Day at Citizens Bank Park. “The Yankees are a solid team, and naturally, they’re the kind of team you’d consider most seasons. I suppose it’s flattering that a good organization is interested in a capable player.”

There’s quite a bit of reason to think the Yankees want Miller, but it’s uncertain whether he’ll meet their trade demands, and if he does, the cost could be steep.

Miller has been making waves with his exceptional fastball, averaging 161.3 mph this season amidst a league focused on hard throwers.

Interestingly, he actually relies more on his slider, leading to an impressive .079 batting average against.

He could really enhance the Yankees’ shaky bullpen, pushing David Bednar into a setup role.

This season, Miller racked up 25 saves for the Padres over 39.3 innings, striking out 72 and posting a mere 0.91 ERA. The Padres have struggled with their bullpen, and at 48-48, they’re trailing by 3.5 games for the last National League wild card spot.

Trading the 27-year-old, who isn’t set to become a free agent until after the 2029 season, could yield significant returns for the Padres. To bolster their roster, they sent four prospects to the Athletics, including top minor league shortstop Leo De Vries, with hopes of landing him as their closer in 2025.

Will the Padres’ President of Baseball Operations AJ Preller, known for his aggressive tactics, rethink his strategy and trade Miller if the team struggles?

“There’s no use stressing over what might happen weeks down the line,” Miller stated. “At the end of the day, it’s beyond my control.”

The situation lies with the Padres, who started strong but have gone 29-37 since May.

They finished their first half after taking a series from the Blue Jays.

“We’ll wait until after the holidays, see how things unfold, and maybe that will guide us,” Miller noted. “There’s a good chance we could end up in the same situation as now, whether that’s buying or selling. I might get more opportunities to pitch.”

“Looking ahead positively, we’re thrilled to close out the first half with a victory and aim to keep that momentum going.”

Cam Schlitler’s Focus on Second Half

Cam Schlitler, a Yankees’ starter, opted out of participating in Tuesday’s All-Star Game and addressed ongoing discussions about the American League’s pitching lineup.

“I have no hard feelings,” Schlitler said. “I can’t control those decisions. I’m keen on the upcoming second half, and Dylan definitely deserves this opportunity.”

He mentioned that Blue Jays’ manager John Schneider chose Dylan Cease over him, citing the latter’s overall performance this season.

Meanwhile, the All-Star Game will miss several key players, including Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani due to injuries, and Schlitler himself has elected to focus on preparation for the latter part of the season.

Injuries have led to several player dropouts, such as Jacob Misiorowski, Paul Skeens, and Max Meyer.

“Given the current circumstances regarding rest and recovery, it’s certainly validating,” said National League and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But I still encourage participation since it’s a special opportunity to showcase talent for the fans.”