In a league where hesitation is often disguised as strategy, one GM refuses to blink. While the Dodgers took their usual measured approach and the Athletics continued their clearance sale, the Padres have hit the gas — and possibly the eject button — on subtlety. This isn’t just roster building; it’s AJ Preller swinging from the fences with both hands.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres have been in a rivalry for a very long time, and the Dodgers have had the upper hand for a long time. With the Padres looking to flip that script, certain trades have been made, and the Los Angeles Dodgers themselves have been outbid. Now, the reports are that the Padres have acquired Mason Miller from the Athletics. The Talkin’ Baseball X handle reported “Padres acquire Mason Miller from the A’s.” Not sure if this will be enough, but this might be a good start to build a team that might win the Padres their first World Series.

The San Diego Padres, already boasting the league’s best bullpen ERA at 2.97, made a statement. They acquired flamethrowing closer Mason Miller and lefty starter J.P. Sears from the Oakland Athletics. In return, San Diego dealt top-20 prospect Leodalis De Vries and three young pitchers. With Miller under team control through 2029, the Padres aren’t just renting—they’re investing in dominance.

Miller throws like he’s angry at the baseball, averaging 101.1 mph with his fastball this year. Despite a 3.76 ERA in 2025, his slider remains devastating—batters slug just .111 against it. He didn’t pitch in a recent one-run win, sparking trade rumors that proved true. Now, he joins a bullpen that already sent three arms to this year’s All-Star Game.

For the Padres, the fit is perfect—more heat, more depth, and postseason insurance if Suarez falters. For Oakland, moving Miller was bold but not reckless, netting a premier shortstop prospect. With Vegas on the horizon, the A’s are thinking future, not flash. And in a gamble town-to-be, they’re betting that long-term value trumps short-term sizzle.

The Padres didn’t just make a trade—they fired a warning shot across the NL West. In a race where the Dodgers often jog to the finish, San Diego just spiked the pace. Mason Miller may not guarantee rings, but he guarantees headlines—and headaches for opposing lineups. AJ Preller isn’t rebuilding quietly; he’s building loudly, with flame and fury. October may finally hear a different roar from Southern California.

Apart from Miller’s bid, the Padres look to outbid the Dodgers again

In a rivalry where ego often outruns ERA, the Padres have traded caution for pure combustion. While the Dodgers play chess with a rulebook, the Padres prefer poker with the table on fire. The Athletics keep dealing like it’s a yard sale in Vegas, and San Diego keeps buying big. After swiping Mason Miller out from under LA, the Padres aren’t backing off—they’re circling again, checkbook still warm.

The Padres and Dodgers are both pursuing Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, generating notable trade speculation. The Dodgers need Kwan because Michael Conforto’s underwhelming slash line of approximately .186/.296/.323 makes him an inadequate everyday left field option. The Padres require Kwan as their current left field depth—led by Gavin Sheets with a .265 average, 14 homers, and 50 RBI—is solid but still inferior overall.

Kwan would bring elite defense, high contact hitting, and excellent baserunning to either contender’s lineup. The Padres might outbid the Dodgers because they have more urgent left field deficiencies and greater financial flexibility this season. San Diego Padres‘ aggressive front office has already swung big by acquiring closer Mason Miller, signaling readiness to add star-level offensive talent.

So if the Mason Miller heist was the appetizer, Steven Kwan might just be the main course. The Padres aren’t just spending—they’re staging a hostile takeover of the NL West arms race. While the Dodgers juggle depth charts and decimal points, San Diego deals in declarations. Kwan wouldn’t just patch a lineup—he’d sharpen it like a scalpel. And if LA blinks again, Preller might just take their lunch money too.