The Oakland Athletics have been surprisingly decent this year, with a 19-26 record.
Still, they are highly unlikely to seriously compete this year or next, for that matter.
As long as they keep rebuilding, their good players will attract trade interest and they will listen.
As good as Mason Miller is, he is no exception to the rule.
“Teams have expressed interest in Mason Miller, and reports suggest that the A’s are considering offers,” B/R Walk-Off tweeted.
Teams have expressed interest in Mason Miller, and reports suggest that the A’s are considering offers 👀 @zachrymer pic.twitter.com/7ttTDBHx4n
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) May 15, 2024
B/R Walk-Off analyst Zach Rymer shared Miller’s top-ten landing spots, and the Chicago Cubs came out on top.
Their late-inning situation is a bit murky, with Hector Neris and Adbert Alzolay being inconsistent and shaky at times.
Having a guy like Miller, who can throw 103-mph darts and dominate opposing hitters to the tune of a 0.98 ERA and a 5/38 BB/K ratio in 18.1 innings, could push them past the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central race.
Oakland is likely open to discussing potential trade scenarios for a variety of reasons.
One, relievers are highly volatile and injury-prone, or at least those who throw 100+ mph.
Two, this might be the moment in which Miller is most valuable: young, talented, and cheap for a long time.
That maximizes his potential return package.
Teams on the list need to have a strong farm to entice the A’s into talking, and the Cubs do.
The Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and, of course, the Los Angeles Dodgers complete the top five.
Will Miller be dealt this year?
As unlikely as it sounds, it’s always a possibility.
