Padres' Mason Miller Open to Making Big Change After Dylan Cease Report

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Aug 4, 2025 3:47 PM ET

The San Diego Padres entered the trade deadline within striking distance of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, and general manager A.J. Preller took full advantage by acquiring several key players.

Most notably, Preller landed young All-Star closing pitcher Mason Miller from the Athletics in exchange for a prospect package headlined by Leo De Vries, the No. 3 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline.

The Athletics drafted Miller in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft, and he debuted as a starting pitcher in 2023, making six starts before the organization transitioned him into a relief role due to concerns about his long-term durability and the potential for greater impact in shorter outings.

In the short term, the move paid off. Miller dominated in 2024, finishing fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting and earning his first All-Star selection. Over 55 appearances, he recorded 28 saves, posted a 2.49 ERA, and struck out 104 batters in just 65 innings.

Padres’ New All-Star Closer Hints at Possible Return to Rotation

Miller made his Padres debut on August 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching a scoreless inning with one strikeout.

On Monday morning, he appeared on the Foul Territory podcast and was asked whether he’d welcome a return to a starter’s role.

Miller responded, “I think there are possibilities of that. But for the time being the focus is 100% on this season.”

Mason Miller says pitching out of the bullpen is his focus right now, but that doesn't mean starting can't be revisited in the future.

"I think there are possibilities of that." pic.twitter.com/VOYhkXFg4F
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 4, 2025

San Diego’s Long-Term Plan May Not Include Dylan Cease

While Miller ended up being the Padres’ most noteworthy deadline move, the team was open to moving right-handed starter Dylan Cease, despite remaining committed to winning this year.

The reasoning was to retool with major-league players under longer team control, as Cease will enter unrestricted free agency this offseason and is unlikely to re-sign via Dennis Lin. The 29-year-old owns a 4–10 record with a 4.60 ERA in 2025, but his 162 strikeouts in 123.1 innings indicate that his pitch arsenal remains effective.

Cease has been a Cy Young candidate in recent years, finishing runner-up in 2022, and has earned a reputation as a workhorse, making 30 starts in each of the past four seasons. He is also represented by Scott Boras, who is known for securing the most lucrative deals for his clients.

With Cease likely departing and Miller under team control for four and a half more seasons, San Diego may soon face a decision about transitioning Miller back into a starting role to fill the potential vacancy.

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

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