The Oakland Athletics have one of the best closers in Major League Baseball. Mason Miller has been absolutely phenomenal on the bump, sporting a 2.27 ERA, and is 12/13 on save opportunities this year.
So, why are the A’s even thinking about trading their best player? They’re not. But, because they are the A’s, we shouldn’t be surprised if they do. They have been receiving calls, which is normal for any GM. Here’s why they should and shouldn’t trade the flamethrower.
Trading Miller
The Athletics have a lot of holes. They aren’t one player away from competing for a World Series Championship, let alone a division title. From starting pitching to hitting, there are just many positions in need of improvement that Oakland needs to address.
Of course, the youth movement is already underway. Guys like Zach Gelof, Lawrence Butler, and Shea Langeliers are just a few players on the A’s roster (yes, Butler was sent to AAA but should be back up sooner rather than later) who are looking to mainstays on future rosters.
However, as a whole, the team is not great offensively. Their .220 batting average is second-worst in the league. Yes, they’re fifth in home runs as a team. But, they rank third-worst in RBIs.
It’s clear this team needs an injection of young players that will help the Athletics good on offense.
When it comes to starting pitching, help is needed there too. Alex Wood and Ross Stripling have been (to put it nicely) terrible since their arrival in the offseason. Paul Blackburn hasn’t looked like the All-Star he once was. J.P. Sears has been the team’s best-starting pitcher, but a 4-5 record and a 4.02 ERA don’t scream ace material.
To summarize it, Oakland needs more talent. Trading Miller allows them to acquire solid prospects/players who can contribute sooner rather than later.
Don’t Trade Miller
He’s your best player. Someone the fans can get behind and are excited to see. Fans across the country stay up to watch his appearance in the ninth inning, hoping to see him fire 100+ MPH fastball past hitters and save games for the Athletics.
Plus, look at this from a contract standpoint. Miller won’t be a free agent until the 2029 season. He will make just the league minimum next season. Plus, does the front office and ownership really want to get rid of another great player that dons the Green & Gold (for example: Matt Chapman, Marcus Semien, Sonny Gray, etc)?
The value for Miller may be as high as ever, considering his age and play this season. But, the amount of value you’ll be getting in exchange for the closer may not be as equal or high as you want it to be. For Miller, an outstanding and eye-popping package is what you need to even consider moving him from Oakland. One team that may make a move for Miller is the Baltimore Orioles. Having him along with Felix Bautista in the bullpen would be phenomenal. They have the pieces to trade away, including multiple top-10 prospects.
In Summary
From an A’s fan perspective, seeing Mason Miller get traded away will just be another “knife to the chest” moment. He makes the team watchable, even as a relief pitcher.
If the front office decides to move him, they better get a worthwhile, eye-popping package in return. But, if they decide to keep him, it makes sense too.
Who knows what to expect with the Oakland A’s? But, all we can do is hope they make the right decision. The players and the fans have gone through a lot. They have something good in Mason Miller. It’ll be interesting to see what happens before the trade deadline.
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Featured Image: Michael Zagaris/Getty Images
