With the second half of the 2026 MLB season underway, the upcoming trade deadline has become a pressing topic for teams across the league heading into August.

While there are plenty of names swirling around in trade rumors, San Diego Padres’ star closer Mason Miller has quickly become a name to look out for at the deadline after the recent struggles from the ballclub this year.

According to MLB insider Bob Nightengale, the Padres could look to move off of Miller during the upcoming MLB Trade Deadline.

“[The Padres] never envisioned that they’d become so mediocre this year that 14 times already [Miller] has had three or more days of rest, including a stretch in June where he never appeared for six days. He has had only 10 save opportunities since May 30,” Nightengale wrote. “Simply, he’s too valuable to sit around and rot in the bullpen, and the Padres could use their return to bolster their woefully thin rotation.”

Should the Padres Trade Miller?

After being selected in the third round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics, Miller has quickly become one of the best relief pitchers in the game.

In 2024, the rising standout began to make a name for himself in the American League by posting a 2.49 ERA, a 0.89 WHIP, and 28 saves. Miller would continue his dominant run into the 2025 season, tallying 20 saves with the Athletics by the middle of the season.

However, the Padres’ desire to improve their bullpen would lead to him being traded at the deadline last year. In exchange for Miller, Oakland received the former No. 3 prospect Leo De Vries, along with Braden Nett, Henry Báez and Eduarniel Nuñez.

While Miller finished his 2025 campaign as the Padres’ primary set-up pitcher out of the bullpen, he would eventually take over as the team’s closing pitcher this season.

Now, in his new role with San Diego, Miller has been nothing short of impressive. This year, the 27-year-old has recording the second-most saves in the MLB at 25 heading into the second half of the season. But the Padres’ recent struggles have led to a low usage rate of the highly-touted reliever this season.

Luckily for San Diego, there are plenty of teams that could use an addition bullpen arm heading into the playoffs.

The Texas Rangers are currently half a game out of the top spot in the AL West, and an elite closer like Miller could aid them in their push for control of the division.