The San Diego Padres ultimately decided not to trade All-Star closer Mason Miller before this week’s trade deadline.
However, for several weeks, the New York Yankees emerged as a potential landing spot. On Thursday, a report shed light on why those trade talks likely never gained serious traction.
Padres’ Trade Demand From Yankees
Acquiring a player like Miller — widely regarded as one of the best closers in baseball — was never going to come cheap.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, any deal that would have sent Miller to the Bronx had to include top shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr., whom the Yankees just called up this week.
Heyman also noted that “almost all sellers” targeted Lombard Jr. in trade talks, including the Colorado Rockies in discussions involving catcher Hunter Goodman.
Yankees trade deadline notes, per @JonHeyman:
• Almost all sellers with stars were focused on George Lombard Jr.; including talks for Mason Miller, Hunter Goodman
• Yankees, Rays, Rangers, Padres all discussed Adley Rutschman with Orioles but weren’t going to top Red Sox offer… pic.twitter.com/j3o1RbPiRU— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) August 7, 2026
Miller’s 2026 Season
Miller is under team control through the 2029 season, so the Padres had no urgency to move him at the trade deadline. Instead, they chose to buy and keep their All-Star closer anchoring the bullpen.
This season, Miller has been nearly impossible to score against. Across 45 appearances, he owns a 4-1 record with a 0.76 ERA, 28 saves and 88 strikeouts.
Who Did the Yankees Land at the Deadline?
For New York, many viewed bullpen help and a catcher as the team’s biggest needs at the trade deadline. The Yankees addressed neither.
However, another area of need was adding a right-handed bat, and New York acquired Luis García Jr. from the Washington Nationals. García entered the deadline leading MLB in slugging percentage while recording 24 home runs and 78 RBIs this season.
Then, in the final hour before the deadline, the Yankees acquired Heliot Ramos from the San Francisco Giants. Ramos also provides a boost to the lineup, batting .261 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs in 76 games this season.
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