Is Preller the best ever at the deadline?

New York Times

a day ago

The 2025 MLB trade deadline arrives at 6 p.m. (ET) today. Join us for live updates and analysis on trades around the league. Getty Images 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.
GO FURTHER
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. Getty Images
With hours to go until the deadline and after bolstering their bullpen, the Mets remain interested in upgrading at center field, people familiar with their plans said. Speculatively, Luis Robert still stands out as a logical fit because he hits left-handed pitching well while playing strong defense with speed. Getty Images
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin is going on the injured list, according to sources briefed on the matter.
It is still 'very possible' he will be traded, one source said. Eflin's injury is not arm-related and he is expected back during the regular season.
In a market already saturated with elite relievers, it seems Athletics closer Mason Miller is another name very much in play as the trade deadline approaches.
Yesterday afternoon, Ken Rosenthal reported that the A's were discussing Miller in negotiations for young pitching, and that both New York teams — the Yankees and Mets — were involved. Later, Rosenthal and Dennis Lin reported that the Padres were among the teams eyeing Miller. According to that report:
✍️ Miller, who started six games as a rookie in 2023, appeals to San Diego as a pitcher who could be stretched out next season, if not before then. Another top Padres starter, Michael King, is expected to test free agency this winter. In recent years, the Padres have converted several former relievers to full-time starters, including King, Seth Lugo and Stephen Kolek.
Last night, A's manager Mark Kotsay told reporters that Miller was 'unavailable' without explaining why, a situation that suggests a trade could be in the works.
So, even after Jhoan Duran and Ryan Helsley have changed teams, the closer market includes Miller, Pete Fairbanks, David Bednar, Carlos Estevez, Camilo Doval, Kyle Finnegan and possibly Robert Suarez. Despite such supply, reporting suggests the prices remain high. Getty Images
Tigers: D
Guardians: C
This is fine. Sewald has a track record, and he'd pitched well after returning from the IL in early July, only to end up right back on the IL. For a player to be named or cash, it's a low-cost addition of a pitcher who could supplement the Tigers bullpen down the stretch, when they might be grateful to have the depth. Fine. Do it. Why not?
But the Tigers were, for a while, the best team in baseball this season. They fell hard this month and have since recovered. They've got a chance to do something this October, but so far they've added only a back-end starter (Chris Paddack) and a couple of used-to-be-good relievers (Sewald and Rafael Montero). On its own, this trade is a low-risk attempt to add some depth. But until the Tigers make a move to actually get better in the here and now, it's hard to see this as a worthwhile priority. Getty Images
By Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Charlie Morton is one starting pitcher the San Diego Padres are pursuing as a potential backup plan if they trade right-hander Dylan Cease, according to sources briefed on the discussions.
The Padres are involved in multiple talks with multiple teams. Meanwhile, as many as 10 teams are pursuing Morton.