The A’s are receiving early commerce calls on nearer Mason Miller, writes Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. Whereas the staff is a minimum of broadly open to discussions, Rosenthal reviews that nobody has come shut to what’s understandably an enormous ask.
Miller has been one of many league’s breakout gamers in 2024. It actually didn’t come out of nowhere — he has been extensively thought to be a High 100 prospect in every of the final two years — however the second-year righty is already among the best relievers within the recreation. Miller gave up two runs in his first look of the season in opposition to the Guardians. He hasn’t been scored on in 12 video games since, and that understates his dominance.
The 25-year-old has recorded a number of strikeouts in all however two of his outings. He has fanned 33 of the 60 batters who’ve stepped in in opposition to him. That’s a laughable 55% price. Amongst pitchers with a minimum of 10 innings, Cincinnati’s Fernando Cruz ranks second with a 47.3% strikeout share. Solely 4 certified relievers — Devin Williams (throughout the abbreviated 2020 schedule), Aroldis Chapman (2014), Craig Kimbrel (2012) and Edwin Díaz (2022) — have ever maintained a strikeout price north of fifty% over a full season. Miller has induced swinging strikes on greater than 21% of his pitches, a mark solely narrowly topped by Cruz. He has paired that overwhelming stuff with sturdy management, issuing simply 4 walks with out hitting a batter.
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It’s not obscure why opponents haven’t had any success making contact. Miller’s stuff is off the charts. His fastball is averaging 100.8 MPH and may run into the 103-104 MPH vary at its excessive finish. He has paired it with an upper-80s slider that drew plus or higher evaluations from prospect evaluators and has been practically unhittable. Opponents are arising empty virtually half the time they swing at each choices.
Each bullpen could be massively upgraded with Miller on the again finish. It’s totally unsurprising that groups would look to pry him from Oakland and that the A’s would wish a large haul to think about it. On high of Miller’s dominance, he’s underneath reasonably priced membership management for years to return. He entered 2024 with lower than one season of MLB service. He’s not on observe to achieve free company till the top of the 2029 marketing campaign. Miller is a lock to undergo arbitration 4 instances as a Tremendous Two participant, however that gained’t start till after subsequent season.
The A’s are nonetheless deep right into a rebuild regardless of an affordable 18-21 begin. They’re impossible to hold within the playoff combine this yr, though they certainly anticipate being a reputable contender effectively inside Miller’s window of staff management. A participant of this caliber who nonetheless has five-plus years of management being traded is basically exceptional.
Nonetheless, Miller’s standing is a minimum of considerably clouded by an alarming damage historical past. He barely pitched within the minors in 2022 due to shoulder troubles. The A’s nonetheless known as him up early final season to work from the rotation. Miller made 4 begins earlier than being identified with a UCL sprain in his elbow. He was shelved into September. The A’s used him out of the bullpen for 2-3 inning stints as soon as he returned.
GM David Forst introduced early final offseason the A’s would transfer Miller to late-inning reduction this yr in an effort to maintain him wholesome. They’ve maintained they’re not against stretching him again out as a starter in ’25, though he might wind up being so spectacular as a reliever the staff chooses to not mess with success.
There’s no small quantity of stress placed on the arm of a pitcher who throws as onerous as Miller does. The entrance workplace presumably has some concern in regards to the risk he suffers one other important damage. That will be the primary argument for genuinely contemplating commerce affords, although Miller additionally clearly has the expertise to be a franchise constructing block. That’s notably true if the A’s are critical about probably transferring him again to the rotation in 2025.
Vital trades this early within the season are uncommon, though the Padres and Marlins lined up on the Luis Arraez swap final week. Groups will definitely proceed attempting to tempt the A’s because the deadline will get nearer. Miller could be their most useful commerce chip, whereas gamers like Paul Blackburn, Brent Rooker, Ross Stripling and Alex Wood may draw consideration.
Speculatively talking, Lucas Erceg may additionally emerge as one of many extra intriguing relievers on the deadline market. A former third baseman, Erect was a late convert to pitching whom the A’s acquired from the Brewers in a minor commerce practically a yr in the past. Whereas he struggled to a 4.75 ERA over 55 innings as a rookie, he has been a key high-leverage arm for skipper Mark Kotsay in 2024. Erceg has managed 22 strikeouts over 15 frames of three.60 ERA ball. His fastball is sitting within the 98-99 MPH vary.
Erceg additionally has six years of staff management, so there’s no urgency for the A’s to maneuver him. He’s already 29 years previous and never as overpowering as Miller, although, so he’s much less prone to be a serious long-term piece popping out of the rebuild.
