Padres make blockbuster deal for A's closer

The San Diego Padres had been relatively quiet ahead of the 6:00 PM EST trade deadline. That changed in a hurry Thursday morning.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported that the Padres have acquired closer Mason Miller and pitcher JP Sears from the Athletics. In exchange, the Padres are sending shortstop prospect Leo De Vries and a trio of pitching prospects - Braden Nett, Henry Baez and Eduarniel Nunez - to the Athletics.

Miller broke out as one of the best closers in the majors in 2024 before struggling over the final few weeks of the season. While he had been unable to replicate his dominance from last season, Miller had posted a solid 3.76 ERA and a 1.017 WHIP in his 38.1 innings, notching 20 saves while striking out 59 batters with 18 walks. Getting away from the bandbox of Sutter Health Park and moving to San Diego should allow Miller to recapture his previous form.

Likewise, Sears should benefit from a change of scenery. He had settled in as a solid back-of-the-rotation starter, posting a 4.95 ERA and a 1.270 WHIP over 111 innings this season, striking out 97 batters with 29 walks.

In exchange, the Padres received an impressive crop of prospects. De Vries is the headliner, the Padres' top prospect and the third-best prospect in baseball per MLB.com. The 18-year-old switch hitter is lauded for his advanced feel at the plate and impressive ability to make contact. His power is more evident from the right side of the plate, but his bat speed give hope that he will develop more pop as a left-handed hitter. A former point guard, De Vries has the athleticism and arm strength to stick at short where he could become a special player.

Nett, the Padres' third-best prospect, has been hindered by injuries throughout his minor league career. When healthy, he has a five pitch mix headlined by a plus mid-90s fastball with impressive carry, a slider that generates plenty of swings and misses and a cutter that he uses with great effect. His command is a work in progress due to his delivery, leading to concern that he will end up in the bullpen, but his arsenal is deep enough where the Padres continued to develop him as a starter.

Baez, the Padres' 13th-best prospect, has the potential to be a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter. He has a three pitch mix with a fastball that has been clocked as high as 98 MPH, a curveball that occasionally turns into more of a slurve and a split-change that misses plenty of bats due to deception. Between his ability to command his arsenal and generate ground balls, the 22-year-old could get a look in Sacramento before long.

Nunez, the Padres' 17th-ranked prospect, is a pure reliever. He has a high octane fastball that can hit triple digits with regularity and plus-plus slider that has generated a whiff rate over 40%. Command remains an issue for the 26-year-old and has been evident in his brief stint in the majors - two earned runs on four hits and four walks over 4.2 innings with two strikeouts - but he has the arsenal to be an impact late inning reliever.

The Padres have made a blockbuster move, shaking up the NL West and the playoff picture as a whole. It will be interesting to see how the Dodgers, and other teams vying for a playoff berth, counter the Padres' moves.