A's Closer Mason Miller Likely To Be Dealt But Would The Cubs Pay The Asking Price?

[Brock Beauchamp]

The Oakland Athletics currently hold a semi-respectable 19-25 record in the American League West but given their current payroll and stadium situation, are likely to be early wheelers and dealers on the trade market.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently wrote that A's closer, Mason Miller, is drawing significant trade interest from other teams. The trade deadline seems to be heating up quite early this year as teams like the White Sox and Marlins throw up white flags after abysmal starts to the season.

Miller, 25 years old, has broken out in 2024 with a 0.98 ERA in 14 games. He made his debut with Oakland last season so is still pre-arbitration and cannot become a free agent until the 2029 season.

The asking price for Miller will be very high but he's also a luxury a rebuilding A's team doesn't need in the here and now, making him somewhat expendable. The Cubs have both a pressing need for a closer and the farm system to easily negotiate this deal, it's a matter of whether Hoyer is ready to take a risk on a formerly-injured pitcher with a short track record.

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[squally1313]

Unpopular opinion, I assume: Hard pass

[We Got The Whole 9]

I doubt Jed would ever do what it takes to win a bidding war like that. Maybe he can pry Erceg, though?

[Brock Beauchamp]

13 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

Unpopular opinion, I assume: Hard pass

That's kinda where I land but mostly because the price tag on a pre-arb reliever is going to be VERY high while the volatility of relievers limits the chance he'll be worth a high price tag for longer than a season or two.

[squally1313]

2 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

That's kinda where I land but mostly because the price tag on a pre-arb reliever is going to be VERY high while the volatility of relievers limits the chance he'll be worth a high price tag for longer than a season or two.

The Athletic article, which was basically just using BBTV, used Coby Mayo (#27 prospect) and Bradfield Jr (#64) prospect from the Orioles, which puts us at like....Caissie (37) and Alcantara (54)? That is a ton of ABs given up for like 200 innings over the next 4 years

[mul21]

This feels like a situation where because they're so bereft of talent, they may take quantity over quality.  Something like Alcantara and some other position we have depth in maybe?

[sneakypower]

17 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

The Athletic article, which was basically just using BBTV, used Coby Mayo (#27 prospect) and Bradfield Jr (#64) prospect from the Orioles, which puts us at like....Caissie (37) and Alcantara (54)? That is a ton of ABs given up for like 200 innings over the next 4 years

i mean, if we like PCA and Ballesteros as long-term answers then those two specifically are fairly replaceable or are names that can be altered to fit a different competitive package

with such a deep farm, there should be various permutations to satisfy whatever value spread A's seek; we don't really seem to feature any MVP-upside potential in the system so a big splash like this is perhaps the best use of prospect currency

i'd personally try a little harder to keep Caissie but that's purely just because i hate watching bad offensive teams so much

[Transmogrified Tiger]

45 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

That's kinda where I land but mostly because the price tag on a pre-arb reliever is going to be VERY high while the volatility of relievers limits the chance he'll be worth a high price tag for longer than a season or two.

Yep.  I'm very open to the idea of paying the going rate for an elite reliever, I'm far less open to the idea of paying an elite reliever being valued at that level for 4+ seasons, because the odds of actually being at that level compared to a hitter or SP are just so much lower.  And that's before we get to pitcher injury risk and especially Miller's injury risk, which is going to be elevated above the norm.  Pressly, Kopech, and Fairbanks are the names so far that catch my eye as potentially better targets.

[Tim]

I'd add Hunter Harvey and Erceg to that list. Of course, the Nationals have to start actually losing before Harvey will become available. 

[muntjack]

For the love of my Fandom,  please do not trade Caissie for a reliever.  The offensive ceiling is too high and he's too close.

[WhyCantWeWin]

I’d trade anyone but Horton, PCA, Caissie or Ballesteros. The A’s have accepted weird trade packages in the past, notably the Murphy trade recently, so it’s definitely worth it for Jed to give them a call, they might like someone that’s not even on a top 100 list. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

1 hour ago, squally1313 said:

The Athletic article, which was basically just using BBTV, used Coby Mayo (#27 prospect) and Bradfield Jr (#64) prospect from the Orioles, which puts us at like....Caissie (37) and Alcantara (54)? That is a ton of ABs given up for like 200 innings over the next 4 years

Is there any scenario in which you will trade a top 7 prospect for a RP? It feels to me like you are saying no. 

[squally1313]

58 minutes ago, sneakypower said:

so a big splash like this is perhaps the best use of prospect currency

 

10 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Is there any scenario in which you will trade a top 7 prospect for a RP? It feels to me like you are saying no. 

Well specifically here I said I wouldn't trade 2 of them. I would, give me the top reliever on the market for a back end top 100 guy, we've done it before. Would like to see more than 15 innings of productivity.

[Bertz]

Yeah count me in the camp who's willing to go hard for a 1-2 year option or two but thinks paying for 4 years of Miller is a bad buy.  Like Ryan Pressly and your favorite Marlins' lefty feels more impactful for 2024 and significantly less expensive.

Alternatively if you feel like all these top 100 prospects are burning a hole in your pocket add a deadline SP with some of the outfield surprlus and shift Brown/Horton to pure 1 inning relief roles at the ASB.

[Tryptamine]

Miller is a stud, no question, but the cost is far too prohibitive for a reliver even if he's really really good. 

[Tim]

We're all assuming the cost is prohibitive (I am, too). But I'm absolutely making an offer if I'm Jed. 

When it gets turned down, I'd be like "how about the same offer for Erceg?"