​Rival MLB executives weigh in on the Padres and Mason Miller, a preview that originally ran in The Sporting News. And for better SEO, add The Sporting News as a preferred source by clicking here. The San Diego Padres have had a rough 2026, slipping enough in the standings that speculation has grown about them becoming sellers as the season progresses. If the Padres decide to move pieces, all eyes would understandably be on pitcher Mason Miller. His name has surfaced in trade chatter lately, posing a legitimate question for A.J. Preller to consider this season.
But in a feature tied to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, multiple rival executives believe the Padres are unlikely to part with Miller, even if the club’s fortunes continue to dip toward the trade deadline. Feinsand quotes the consensus from roughly a dozen executives: Preller is unlikely to trade Miller — or to become a seller at all — unless the Padres’ situation deteriorates significantly in the coming three weeks. That cautious outlook suggests a Miller deal remains unlikely, even if July proves grim for San Diego.
In other words, a Miller trade would be a dramatic and attention-grabbing move for the league, but it does not appear plausible under current expectations, even if the Padres experience a disappointing month. The only scenario in which Miller could be dealt would be a truly catastrophic July that forces Preller to blow up the roster and pivot toward a long-term rebuild.
One executive from the American League even opined that Preller seems inclined to stay in the fight rather than reset the franchise. There is an acknowledgment that the Padres could command a substantial return for Miller at the deadline, yet several rival executives cautioned that the deal’s haul would likely pale in comparison to the aggressive package San Diego sent to acquire Miller from the Athletics a year ago.
The sense among competitors is that Miller trade chatter has gained momentum in response to the Padres’ woes, but the prevailing belief is that Preller will resist selling to this extent. The team’s expensive, aging roster complicates any sell-off, making a full-blown rebuild less attractive from a long-term perspective in the near term.
Beyond Miller, the piece also touches on other surrounding topics and potential trade scenarios in the NL and broader trade landscape, including outlooks on Cristopher Sánchez as a planned NL All-Star starter for the Phillies, how Tarik Skubal might fit with the Braves or Tigers, and various angles on the Rays, Astros, and Angels as the deadline approaches. The overall takeaway remains that even amid rising trade chatter and growing pressure to make moves, the Padres appear more inclined to try to salvage their season and contend rather than pivot to a wholesale rebuild at the deadline.