The New York Mets and San Diego Padres are discussing potential trades involving reliever Mason Miller and other players as both teams address offseason needs. The Mets seek bullpen and rotation help after losing Edwin Díaz and Pete Alonso, while the Padres aim to manage payroll and replenish starting pitching. No deal is imminent, but talks include Mets prospects and young players.
Trade discussions between the New York Mets and San Diego Padres have heated up during the MLB offseason, with reliever Mason Miller emerging as a key figure. According to reports from The Athletic and MLB.com, the Mets are inquiring about Miller, whom the Padres acquired from the Oakland Athletics less than five months ago in a deal that cost them four players, including top prospect Leo De Vries. The Padres gave up significant assets to land Miller alongside left-hander JP Sears before the Trade Deadline, but they are now listening to offers amid budget constraints.
The Mets, under president of baseball operations David Stearns, are rebuilding after losing closer Edwin Díaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency and trading left fielder Brandon Nimmo for second baseman Marcus Semien. They also saw first baseman Pete Alonso depart as a free agent. To offset these losses, New York signed closer Devin Williams and agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with infielder Jorge Polanco, who posted 2.6 WAR, 26 home runs, 78 RBIs, and an .821 OPS in 2025. Polanco is expected to play first base and designated hitter.
In the talks, the Mets are targeting not only Miller but also starter Nick Pivetta ($19 million salary in 2026 with opt-out), outfielder Ramón Laureano ($6.5 million for one more season), and relievers Jeremiah Estrada and Adrian Morejon. Neither superstar Francisco Lindor nor Fernando Tatis Jr. is involved. The Padres, facing a projected $201 million payroll and a pending lawsuit, need controllable starting pitchers after losing Dylan Cease to the Toronto Blue Jays, with Michael King hitting free agency and Yu Darvish sidelined for all of 2026 due to elbow surgery. Joe Musgrove is recovering from Tommy John surgery, and Randy Vásquez benefited from luck with a 3.84 ERA against an expected 5.38.
San Diego is attracted to the Mets' prospects, including Nolan McLean (MLB Pipeline No. 11, considered untouchable), Carson Benge (No. 21), Jett Williams (No. 30), Jonah Tong (No. 46), and Brandon Sproat. MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported that the Padres would require an overwhelming offer for Miller, described as one of MLB's top arms and hardest throwers. Previous trades between Stearns (then with the Brewers) and Padres GM A.J. Preller include deals for Josh Hader in 2022 and Zach Davies in 2019. While no agreement is close, the discussions could benefit both clubs navigating tight budgets and roster holes.