The New York Yankees added three relief pitchers at last year’s trade deadline and according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees could be aiming high in the relief market once again this year.
Heyman wrote in a story posted earlier this week that the Yankees “love the idea of” adding Mason Miller from the San Diego Padres.
Heyman adds the Yankees could be motivated to acquire Miller to not only give them one of baseball’s best relivers for this year, but to address their closer situation for 2027 and beyond. Current closer David Bednar - who they acquired last year from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the deadline - is scheduled to be a free agent after this season, while Miller is under contract through 2029.
The Yankees (54-42) are expected to be buyers heading into the Aug. 3 trade deadline and will begin the second half of the season three back games of the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League East lead.
The 27-year-old Miller was acquired by the Padres only last year from the Athletics but has been mentioned in trade rumours recently with San Diego entering the All-Star break three and a half games out of a playoff spot at 48-48. MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell reported earlier this week that the Padres are taking an “open-minded” approach to the trade deadline with general manager A.J. Preller rarely afraid to make bold moves.
Miller has remained as elite as it gets in the ninth inning this season. He has a 0.91 earned-run average with a league-leading 25 saves and 34 games finished. He also has a whopping 72 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched and leads all MLB relievers in fWAR at 2.5.
The Pittsburgh native is in his fourth MLB season and is a two-time All-Star with a lifetime 2.43 ERA.
