PHILADELPHIA — The Yankees are frequently looking for relief help, always competitive and have the wherewithal to add at the very top of the market.
So Mason Miller has heard the rumors and reports — though more last year than this year, he said — that the Yankees would be interested in landing him in a blockbuster.
“The rumors are what they are,” Miller said at Monday’s All-Star media day at Citizens Bank Park. “The Yankees are a good team, and they’re obviously a team that is going to add most years. I think it’s just a compliment in a way that good teams are interested in good players.”
There is every reason to believe that the Yankees are interested in Miller, though there is doubt whether he reaches the trade block (and if so, the price tag would be astronomical).
In an era of flamethrowers, Miller burns brightest with a fastball that has averaged 101.3 mph this season.
That he throws his slider more often — a pitch that has yielded an .079 batting average — seems unfair.
He would fit nicely in a shaky Yankees bullpen and push David Bednar to setup duties.
Miller has saved 25 games and pitched to a 0.91 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 39 ²/₃ innings for the Padres, who have been carried by the back of their bullpen but sit at 48-48 and 3 ¹/₂ games back of the final NL wild card.
Trading the 27-year-old, who cannot be a free agent until after the 2029 season, would fetch an immense haul for the Padres, who know this well: In 2025, they sent a four-prospect package that was led by shortstop Leo De Vries (who at the time was the No. 3 prospect in the entire minor leagues) to the A’s for the closer.
Would San Diego president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, among the most aggressive in the business, seek to replenish his prospect reserves and sell Miller if the team does not tick up?
“It’s kind of fruitless to worry about something three weeks away, four weeks away, whatever it ends up being,” Miller said. “Ultimately, it’s out of your hands.”
It is in the hands of the Padres, who started well but are 29-37 since May.
They did enter the break having taken a series from the Blue Jays.
“We’re going to have to wait until we come out of the break and see how those weeks go. See if that tells us anything,” Miller said. “We could very well be in the same position as we are now. Then [buying or selling] might be a little more of a toss-up.
“I think optimistically looking ahead, we’re excited we ended the first half on a winning series and look to carry that momentum forward.”
Cam Schlittler declined to pour fuel on the AL starting pitcher controversy.
The Yankees starter reiterated that he decided he was not going to pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star Game before learning that Blue Jays manager John Schneider had decided to give the ball to his own pitcher, Dylan Cease, to start the game.
“There’s no hard feelings,” Schlittler told reporters. “That’s not something I can control. I’m more worried about the second half, and Dylan deserves that.”
In explaining his decision, Schneider cited Cease’s “overall body of work this year” and his “body of work over the last three years” along with Cease leading the league in strikeouts.
In most other categories, Schlittler holds the edge.
An All-Star Game already missing Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani because of injury also will not include Schlittler (who said he wants to focus on getting ready for the second half), Jacob Misiorowski (fatigue), Paul Skenes (who pitched Sunday), Chase Burns (groin), Max Meyer (rest), Ranger Suárez (groin) and Zack Wheeler (who declined an invite after originally being snubbed), to name a few.
“The way the game is now, where there’s rest, recovery, injuries, which are certainly validated, I still try to encourage players to participate because it is for the fans,” NL and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “To be able to showcase your talents in front of everyone, it’s a special moment.”
