Padres Reacts Survey Results: Mason Miller can bring haul, but his departure could leave hole

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres prepares to pitch during the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park on July 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country.  Sign up here  to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

The MLB Trade Deadline is a week away and once again the San Diego Padres are getting a lot of attention. In recent seasons, the Padres and their general manager A.J. Preller have been on the prowl looking for pieces to add to their lineup that could finally bring a championship to San Diego. While that may be the case this season, the truth is no one knows — except Preller and his closest advisors of course. Actually, Preller may honestly not know which way the deadline will go, and he may not know until the homestand against the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants concludes.

Even if the Preller and the Padres are undecided, the baseball world has been speculating for weeks that San Diego’s All-Star closer Mason Miller could be on the move. With a low salary and multiple years of control, a trade involving Miller could bring the type of return that significantly impacts the depth in the Padres system — at the major league level and the farm system. Miller is a closer and yes, closers typically do not bring back significant talent, but he is not just any closer. Miller is the MOST DOMINANT closer in the game.

San Diego came out of the All-Star break on a 10-game road trip that saw them play against the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. The Padres entered the weekend series against the Marlins with a 2-5 record coming out of the break. The possibility of Miller being traded increased with each loss and baseball pundits began to imagine what trade packages could be cobbled together by teams like the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates. Then San Diego went into Miami and swept a three-game series and Miller added two more saves to his season total which sits at 27. He is by far the most valuable trade piece for the Padres at the MLB level.

Should Preller and the Padres decide to buy and add to the current roster, the minor league system could get thinned out more than it already is. The top player in the farm is catcher Ethan Salas, a switch-hitting, defense-first catcher that has been destined for stardom since the Padres signed him at 16 years old. The combination of talent and potential makes Salas attractive to any team in the league outside of maybe the Detroit Tigers, who have one of the top young catchers in baseball in Dillon Dingler. It is believed that Salas is still a couple years away from reaching the majors, but that is not long enough to deter teams from inquiring about him should Preller covet one of their players. The question is, “Is Salas this year’s Leo De Vries.” The shortstop prospect was moved to get Miller and JP Sears from the Athletics at the deadline last season.

Miller and Salas both have value. Miller has current value and Salas has future value. Losing either player could affect the Padres and their fans in a number of ways. In a perfect world, San Diego continues to win, Preller decides to add and he does so without sacrificing Miller or Salas, but that is a lot to ask. The Padres Reacts Survey from Gaslamp Ball last week asked respondents to determine who had more value (Miller or Salas) and which player would be more difficult to lose. The numbers on the poll were relatively close, but the majority determined Miller had more value than Salas and that losing Miller over Salas would be the more difficult subtraction from San Diego.

Again, there is no way to know what Preller is going to do considering the way the team is playing at the moment, but Aug. 3 is coming quick and he may have to be ready to use or lose one or both of Miller and Salas and the Friar Faithful may have to wait until the last minute to know the answers to all of their questions.

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