Mason Miller is enjoying a solid season with the Padres, but a possible trade could be on the horizon, influenced by his teammate’s contract situation.
While Miller has an outstanding 0.89 ERA from the bullpen, Xander Bogaerts, another key player, is struggling with a .645 OPS and is quite costly for the team.
Bogaerts, who is 33, inked an 11-year, $280 million deal with San Diego back in 2022. There are whispers that it’s pretty much inevitable the Padres will look to part ways with this four-time All-Star.
According to Kevin Ace from the San Diego Union-Tribune, who cites unnamed sources, the Padres haven’t excluded the chance of trading Miller to help facilitate a shift regarding Bogaerts.
The decline in Bogaerts’ performance since his move from the Red Sox has been notable, and he’s earning $25 million annually until 2033.
Ace mentioned that if another team is willing to take on some of Bogaerts’ salary, it could significantly influence any potential deals.
On Miller’s side, he remains under team control for the next three years. San Diego acquired him in a significant trade at last year’s deadline.
Even though the Padres haven’t met championship expectations this season, they aren’t far from playoff contention.
Following a recent 7-6 loss to the Royals, their record stands at 48-49, placing them three and a half games out of the National League wild-card spot.
As the August 3rd trade deadline draws near, teams will soon need to determine whether they should buy or sell.
Padres president of baseball operations AJ Preller commented about the upcoming discussions, emphasizing the need to assess the team’s performance after the break and all available options. He noted, “We’re keeping everything on the table, whether it’s acquiring a player or possibly needing a different strategy.”
