In a significant move within the MLB landscape, San Diego Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has finalized a trade with the Oakland Athletics, acquiring pitchers Mason Miller and J.P. Sears. This acquisition was first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, indicating the Padres’ intent to bolster their roster following a week marked by speculation around major deals.

Mason Miller, in particular, adds intrigue to the Padres' plans. Insider reports by Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin suggest that the Padres may consider transitioning Miller into a starting role, potentially as early as this season. Since making his MLB debut in 2023, Miller has excelled in relief, showcasing a 3.16 ERA and recording 201 strikeouts over 136.2 innings across three seasons. Despite some inconsistency with walks, averaging 4.2 free passes per nine innings—a statistic that places him 135th out of 169 qualified relievers—his overall performance has been solid, culminating in a 3.76 ERA over 38.1 innings this season. Although Miller served primarily as a starter during his minor league career, he has not yet demonstrated extended outings, compiling 39.1 innings over 16 appearances, 15 of which were starts, in the Athletics' system.

The addition of J.P. Sears, a back-of-the-rotation starter capable of providing innings, allows the Padres to manage Miller’s transition at a more measured pace, delaying it until next season to allow for a full offseason of preparation. Sears, who currently holds a 4.95 ERA in 111 innings this season, may not significantly impact San Diego's rotation but offers depth. Both players come with several years of team control; Sears has three years of arbitration eligibility remaining before reaching free agency after 2028, while Miller will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2029 season. The Padres parted with substantial value in this trade, including their highly regarded prospect DeVries, ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in MLB.com’s updated top 100 released on July 1. DeVries, an 18-year-old acquired by the Padres as part of their international free agent class, has posted a .245/.357/.410 batting line over 82 games this season at High-A. Also included in the trade is Braden Nett, who, after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2022, has faced injury challenges limiting him to 182.2 innings in three years but has shown promise with a 3.79 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 54 minor league appearances. Accompanying them are depth arms Henry Baez and Eduarniel Nuñez for the Athletics, the latter of whom may be ready to contribute to the MLB bullpen without delay. This bold maneuver by Preller reflects the Padres' position, as they observe an opportunity to close the gap on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, having reduced the margin to three games. The Athletics, in turn, acquire useful assets, including a top-tier prospect looking to advance quickly through the minors alongside rookie talents Jacob Wilson and Nick Kurtz.