San Diego Padres pitcher Mason Miller (22) looks on from the dugout before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park on Aug. 1. Chadd Cady-Imagn Images

Padres Wasted No Time Telling Mason Miller They Don't Like Dodgers

Originally posted on Los Angeles Dodgers on SI
By J.P. Hoornstra | Last updated Aug 6, 2025 8:01 PM ET

Circle the date: Aug. 15 at Dodger Stadium.

That will be the Dodgers' first chance to play the San Diego Padres after the trade deadline, an occasion that dramatically reshaped the Padres' roster.

Mason Miller might already have the date circled. The pitcher was considered untouchable in the days leading up to the deadline, before Padres president of baseball operations pried the prized closer loose from West Sacramento.

The blockbuster trade brought Miller and starting pitcher JP Sears to San Diego and sent shortstop Leo De Vries — the No. 3 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline — along with three pitching prospects to the A's.

"They told me right away, obviously, we don't like those guys (the Dodgers) a whole lot," Miller said in an appearance this week on Foul Territory. "I haven't really had a rivalry to that extent. ... Not a rivalry to the sense of, the Padres and the Dodgers. I'm excited to experience that.

"Definitely going to be a lot of eye-opening experiences going forward, just with playing in front of all these fans and playing in these big rivalry games that mean so much."

The Dodgers would have been happy not to see Miller at all this season.

The right-hander boasts a fastball that touches 104 mph. The Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets and New York Yankees were all reportedly interested in Miller, but would not meet the steep asking price the Padres ultimately paid.

While the A's might be better off in the long run with the package of prospects they acquired, the Padres are better in the short-term with Miller. But their new pitcher is not invincible.

Miller allowed a home run to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Tuesday on a 104-mph fastball, the fastest pitch ever hit for a home run since at least 2008.

This game-tying Lourdes Gurriel Jr. home run came on a 103.9 mph fastball from Mason Miller.

That's the fastest pitch in the Statcast Era (and likely fastest ever) that resulted in a home run. pic.twitter.com/NvMNvHeVTG
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) August 6, 2025

The July 31 trade deadline saw the Dodgers make a couple minor tweaks, adding outfielder Alex Call and reliever Brock Stewart while subtracting outfielder James Outman and pitcher Dustin May.

The Padres might have won the trade deadline, but the Dodgers will let them have it. They're more focused on winning the National League West — something the Padres haven't won since 2006 — en route to a second consecutive World Series championship.

Soon, the two teams will have a chance to renew their rivalry on the field.

This article first appeared on Los Angeles Dodgers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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