The Padres might not be done
The A's considered closer Mason Miller untouchable for years. The Padres considered teenage shortstop prospect Leo De Vries untouchable for almost the entirety of his 18-month tenure in the organization.
Thursday's blockbuster trade agreement exemplified A.J. Preller's desire to win — and win immediately. In addition to surrendering De Vries, a potential candidate to be baseball's No. 1 prospect by next year, the Padres president of baseball operations is also giving up perhaps his third-best prospect in Braden Nett and two other well-regarded arms in Henry Baez and Eduarniel Núñez.
Now, the question is: After going this far, how much farther will Preller go?
The Padres still want to acquire a left fielder and a catcher, according to people familiar with their thinking. By most indications, they still have not stopped trying on a pair of top outfield targets — the Red Sox's Jarren Duran and the Guardians' Steven Kwan. To acquire either player, however, they may need to trade starter Dylan Cease or incumbent closer Robert Suarez and perhaps flip the resulting prospect capital to Boston or Cleveland.
The Orioles have been aggressive this week, trading three relievers — Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto, Andrew Kittredge — plus third baseman Ramon Urías. But the Orioles might not be close to finished. Among their remaining trade chips: DH Ryan O'Hearn — A free agent at the end of the season. Capable of playing first base and the outfield corners. One of the better bats on the market.
— A free agent at the end of the season. Capable of playing first base and the outfield corners. One of the better bats on the market. OF Ramon Laureano — Having a tremendous season, pushing his value from fourth outfielder to a potential everyday option for teams in need of outfield help. Contract includes a team options for 2026.
— Having a tremendous season, pushing his value from fourth outfielder to a potential everyday option for teams in need of outfield help. Contract includes a team options for 2026. CF Cedric Mullins — Another pending free agent. Red hot lately with a 104 wRC+ for the year. One of the more reliable center field options out there.
— Another pending free agent. Red hot lately with a 104 wRC+ for the year. One of the more reliable center field options out there. SP Zach Eflin — Also approaching free agency. Having a bad year (5.93 ERA) that's been marred by injury (he's heading back to the IL), but his track record could still entice teams looking for rotation depth that has the potential for late-season impact.
— Also approaching free agency. Having a bad year (5.93 ERA) that's been marred by injury (he's heading back to the IL), but his track record could still entice teams looking for rotation depth that has the potential for late-season impact. SP Charlie Morton — Pending free agent who turns 42 in November. Morton got off to a terrible start this season, which temporarily cost him a spot in the Orioles rotation, but he has a 3.88 ERA since moving back into the rotation at the end of May.
— Pending free agent who turns 42 in November. Morton got off to a terrible start this season, which temporarily cost him a spot in the Orioles rotation, but he has a 3.88 ERA since moving back into the rotation at the end of May. SP Trevor Rogers — Lefty acquired at last year's trade deadline. He was depth for much of the season, but Rogers moved into the rotation in June and has pitched to a 1.49 ERA through eight starts. He threw a gem against the Rockies last time out. He comes with one more season of team control. Getty Images
The Phillies took their biggest swing about 24 hours before Thursday's deadline, but they continue to canvass sellers for potential outfield upgrades — big and small. They would prefer to add a right-handed bat to the mix. They have interest in Alex Call, a 30-year-old outfielder with the Washington Nationals, multiple major-league sources said.
Call, as a part-time player, has hit .274/.371/.386 in 237 plate appearances this season. He's done well against lefties, which is why the Phillies are targeting him. Call has an .802 OPS vs. lefties in 2025. He can play all three outfield positions.
If the Phillies choose a marginal upgrade in the outfield, they could pair it with an internal move by promoting Justin Crawford to the majors. Crawford could have arrived earlier this month, but the Phillies want him to play every day if he's in the majors, so they have waited to see how the deadline unfolds.
The Phillies continue to engage the Chicago White Sox on Luis Robert Jr. and the Cleveland Guardians on Steven Kwan, sources said, but after unloading two of their better prospects to acquire Jhoan Duran, they could take a more measured approach Thursday. Getty Images
Leo De Vries is 18 years old in High A and more than holding his own, hitting comfortably above the league average despite being the youngest regular at that level. He's a switch hitter who's clearly better from the left side, The Athletic's Keith Law wrote in his midseason MLB prospect rankings where De Vries came in at No. 13, even though he hit for more power right-handed last year, with a strong left-handed swing that's going to produce at least a ton of extra-base hits to the gaps.
He's a definite shortstop who might end up plus there, with a 60 arm and plenty of lateral range. He would have been a high school senior this spring had he grown up anywhere covered by the draft, and he's already producing in High A; that alone would mark him as a potential star.
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Top 60 MLB prospects: Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark top newest rankings Getty Images
By Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin
A year ago, Athletics closer Mason Miller was considered untouchable. On Thursday, hours before the trade deadline, the team with baseball's best bullpen swung a big deal to land him.
Ever aggressive, the San Diego Padres have agreed to acquire Miller and left-handed starter JP Sears from the A's in exchange for top prospect Leo De Vries, and right-handed pitchers Braden Nett, Henry Báez and Eduarniel Nuñez, league sources told The Athletic .
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Padres add Mason Miller in blockbuster deal, ship top prospect Leo De Vries to A's: Sources Getty Images
Has A.J. Preller become the all-time king of the trade deadline?
He has now traded for all of these guys just since the middle of 2022: Juan Soto
Josh Hader
Tanner Scott
Jason Adam
Mason Miller
JP Sears
There isn't a star in the baseball cosmos the Padres' president of baseball ops won't chase. It hasn't lifted them into any World Series, but it isn't for lack of outside-the-box effort. Getty Images
Since last night, we've seen Mason Miller, Jhoan Duran and Ryan Helsley each change teams. The Pirates are apparently undecided on whether to trade David Bednar.
The Rays and Giants seem also on the fence about whether to trade Pete Fairbanks and Camilo Doval. The Tigers could use a meaningful bullpen upgrade. The Yankees and Blue Jays also seem to be in the market, the Red Sox might not be done adding relievers, and Ken Rosenthal has reported the Dodgers, Mariners, Rangers and Brewers are also looking for bullpen help. Phil Maton and Danny Coulombe are pending free agents who seem likely to go somewhere by the end of the day. Getty Images
Two of the most compelling outfield trade candidates, both Steven Kwan and Jarren Duran had been linked to the Padres, with The Athletic reporting that a deal involving either one could hinge on the Padres giving up top prospect Leodalis De Vries. Now that De Vries is with the A's, is there still a team with the prospect capital — and the willingness to trade that prospect capital — that could make a move for Kwan or Duran? Getty Images
The Padres just got a closer and a starting pitcher. Two of their best trade chips — pending free agents with value — are a closer (Robert Suarez) and a starting pitcher (Dylan Cease). Is this blockbuster setting the stage for moves to follow?
Here are three questions I'm asking in the wake of the Padres' blockbuster move for Mason Miller... Getty Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers said throughout their World Series run last year that the San Diego Padres had represented their biggest challenge, pushing them to the brink of elimination in the National League Division Series. Arguably the biggest reason why: the strength of their bullpen (which, on a separate note, made the decision to start Dylan Cease in Game 4 on short rest all the more curious). Last year, it was Tanner Scott who was the difference-making deadline acquistion for San Diego. Now, it's Mason Miller for a Padres team that is suddenly just three games back of the Dodgers for the NL West.
WOW. A.J. Preller strikes again at the deadline. This deal is especially intriguing when considering that the Padres' pitching is their strength and their offense is what needs upgrading. But there have been rumors swirling around potential trades of starter Dylan Cease and closer Robert Suárez in exchange for a bat — and now those deals become much more likely as the Padres have just secured replacements (and upgrades) for those two in J.P. Sears and Mason Miller.
But Preller once again paid a hefty price — Leodalis De Vries, the consensus top prospect in San Diego's organization, is headed to the A's.
All-Star Athletics closer Mason Miller and starter JP Sears are heading to Padres, a source confirms to The Athletic . Top shortstop prospect Leodalis DeVries heading to A's. ESPN first reported the deal. Imagn Images
On Monday, we released version 3.0 of our Trade Deadline Urgency Index. Until Eugenio Suárez was traded to Seattle, we'd had no impact starters or hitters traded but seen plenty of action in the relief market. So, let's fine tune Monday's rankings to see who has the most work to do today. San Diego Padres: It still seems like they're cooking something up, whether that's a deal for Steven Kwan, Jarren Duran or another outfielder. Houston Astros: They need more than Ramón Urias. This is a logical landing spot for a lefty like Ryan O'Hearn. Detroit Tigers: The bats have come back to life the last couple days, but if the Tigers only add arms at this deadline it'll leave them very vulnerable in October. New York Mets: A center fielder would really be ideal, especially since the third-grade upgrades seem to be off the board by now. Texas Rangers: Our previous index had the Los Angeles Dodgers in this spot. I'm moving the hard-charging Rangers into this spot. They need more production from the catching, first base and designated hitter positions. Let's get moving with those lineup improvements.
Stay tuned for updated Urgency Indexes focusing on starters and relievers.
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MLB trade deadline Urgency Index 3.0: Who needs what? Who needs it the most? Getty Images
By Chandler Rome and Ken Rosenthal
Even after acquiring Ramón Urías from the Baltimore Orioles, the Astros remain interested in upgrading their lineup, according to sources briefed on their plans. One option is still a reunion with Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, who is guaranteed $96 million through the next three seasons and would have to waive his no-trade clause.
Correa told reporters on Wednesday night that talks with the Astros were "not something that I think is serious right now"and sources from both teams downplayed the likelihood of a trade. Talks, however, remain ongoing. Houston is also still pursuing starting pitching, but some are worried the club could lose a bidding war in competition for Dylan Cease or Sandy Alcantara. If that happens, the Astros could pivot and to add a right-handed leverage reliever. Getty Images
After trading Ryan Helsley and Steven Matz on Wednesday, the Cardinals expect to complete their trifecta of reliever deals before the deadline this evening. Several teams are competing for right-hander Phil Maton, a veteran reliever with extensive postseason experience. He's owed roughly $700,000 for the remainder of the season. "It's not a matter of if (Maton) goes, it's when," a team source said Thursday morning. Getty Images
In the Orioles' trade of Ramón Urias to Houston, they got back a right-handed pitcher named Twine Palmer.
Bet you didn't know the last pitch thrown for the Orioles by a pitcher named Palmer was thrown by (yep) Jim Palmer, on May 12, 1984.
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