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Mason Miller Sends Clear Dodgers Message After Padres Trade

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Kaplan | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 5:14 PM ET

While the Rafael Devers-Giants trade in June was likely the trade with the most star-power this year, the Padres' blockbuster trade for A's closer Mason Miller was easily the most gutsy.

AJ Preller traded away No. 3 overall prospect Leo De Vries as part of a superstar package to land Miller and starter JP Sears on Thursday, along with pitching prospects Braden Nett, Henry Baez and Eduarniel Nunez (SD's No. 3, No. 13 and No. 17 overall).

The inclusion of De Vries in the trade marks the first time since the 2016 offseason that a top 3 prospect in baseball was dealt; the last was the trade that sent Lucas Giolito to the White Sox in the Adam Eaton deal.

Miller, who threw a scoreless frame against the Cardinals in his Padres debut, including a 103-mile-per-hour strikeout of Jordan Walker, was obviously expected to conform to the Padres way, given his being under team control until 2029.

One of those agenda items was his feelings toward the Dodgers, and Miller sent a pretty clear message on that front.

"They told me right away that we don't like those guys a whole lot," Miller said in an interview with the Foul Territory show.

Miller grew up in Bethel Park, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh, and grew up a passionate Pirates, but the star closer quickly picked up on the Padres' dislike of the Dodgers.

With all of the spending and swapping that Preller has done, the Padres' biggest playoff success remains their four-game NLDS upset victory against the Dodgers in 2022, which then resulted in an NLCS elimination against the Phillies.

The Padres have not made the World Series since 1998, when they were swept by the New York Yankees. Even with their acquisition of Miller, they face an upward climb to a title this year in a division that still has the Dodgers, and in a conference that has the Cubs, Mets, Brewers and Phillies vying for a pennant.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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