Oakland Athletics Looking For 'Absurd' Asking Price For Star Relief Pitcher

Mason Miller isn’t your normal trade target. Most of the time, teams look for players in the last year or final years of their contract. A team like the Oakland Athletics doesn’t want to lose players in free agency for nothing, so they trade them to get some value back. Miller isn’t in the final year of his deal; he’s a rookie. His contract has him under team control through 2029. MLB insiders of The Athletic are reporting the asking price is “going to be absurd.”

It isn’t hard to see why. He owns a 2.08 ERA over 34.2 innings, along with 15.9 strikeouts per nine innings. His WHIP currently sits at 0.808. Despite the team being behind late in games, he has still managed to get 14 saves on the season. His production, paired with his contract, means the Oakland Athletics need a huge offer in order to move him. Will that offer come?

Patience Is Often Rewarded

A season can change for a team in an instant. The Oakland Athletics might be better off waiting. If a contender loses a top reliever due to injury, Mason Miller might become a prime target. Teams may be willing to give up the farm if they feel they have a shot at a World Series. It would be smart to cash in this year. While patience is often rewarded, relievers often are volatile from year to year. Miller might not have a year like this in 2025, which would drastically decrease his value.

If there is a team willing to offer a king’s ransom, the Oakland Athletics should take it. A deal like this has the potential to propel the franchise to a championship. We’ve seen both the Cubs and Astros follow this model with success. They built their farm system over the course of a few years and then had a glut of young talent in their prime. It paid off in big ways. The only difference is the Athletics are a unique franchise.

The possible impending move to Las Vegas has upset many fans. There is concern the front office doesn’t have the team’s best interest at heart. They could be distracted with other things and not fully maximize the value of a player like Mason Miller. The trade deadline is always interesting to watch and the Oakland Athletics have some big decisions to make.