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wjslotThe San Diego Padres pulled off the blockbuster of the trade deadline when they sent their top prospect, who was ranked inside the top five in all of baseball, to the Athletics for Mason Miller and J.P. Sears.
aurora gameWhile there's more to the deal, the Padres' blockbuster came as a surprise, especially since Miller, as an elite closer, would be joining the best bullpen in baseball. The next question was an interesting one: who would be the team's closer?
casino frenzyAfter the deadline passed, Dennis Lin of The Athletic revealed that the Padres plan to have Miller not be the closer; instead, they're expected to keep Robert Suarez as the team's closer.
Miller has a 3.76 ERA, 20 saves, and 59 strikeouts in 38 appearances this season. Suarez leads MLB in saves with 30 and has a 3.43 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 47 appearances.
Their profiles are similar, and either would be a great option in the closer role. But aside from Miller and Suarez, San Diego has a lot of potential closers who'd all be great options as the team's closer.
Jeremiah Estrada has a 2.59 ERA, 66 strikeouts, and three saves in 52 appearances. Jason Adam has a 1.89 ERA, 56 strikeouts, and a 6-3 record over 52 appearances. Adrian Morejon has a 1.63 ERA, 50 strikeouts, and an 8-4 record over 52 appearances.
MORE: Padres pull off blockbuster trade for Athletics' Mason Miller
Adam, Morejon, and Suarez were All-Stars this season, while Estrada had a solid case, and Miller in 2024 was an All-Star with the Athletics. It's a star-studded bullpen, and Suarez is expected to remain the closer for the rest of the year.
Any of these five relievers has a case to be the closer, but the Padres plan to stick with Suarez in the closer role. While something could change down the road, the Padres' plan is for Suarez to remain the closer and Miller to join an elite cast of setup men.
It's a great problem to have, and with Suarez expected to leave in free agency, Miller could take over in 2026 and beyond as the team's new closer. A.J. Preller's blockbuster addition isn't taking over Suarez's duties, and instead will bolster a great bullpen.
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