Robert Murray says on STTP Podcast that he doesn’t foresee Mason Miller trade

The Oakland Athletics have been one of the worst teams in all of baseball this season, currently sitting at 40-62 on the year, the second-worst record in the American League. But that doesn’t mean that the organization is likely to part with All-Star closer Mason Miller.

Miller has been dominant this season. Through play on July 22, he sports a 2.21 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 40.2 innings. At just 25 years of age, Miller profiles to be one of the better pitchers, not just relievers, in all of baseball for the foreseeable future.

That will undoubtedly lead to some significant interest in Miller as a potential trade target from teams in need of a closer for their playoff push this season.

However, Robert Murray, an MLB insider for Fansided, doesn’t believe that the A’s are going to be willing to part ways with Miller this offseason.

“Yeah, I don’t expect him to be moved at all,” said Murray during an appearance on the Short and to the Point podcast with Jessica Kleinschmidt. “I fully anticipate that there is going to be plenty of teams who check in on him. Because we’re talking about a closer who is 25 years old. He’s been awesome this year. His future looks incredibly bright. But he is also signed for five more years. And he’s gonna be signed pretty cheap.

“It makes him an incredibly valuable asset. I fully anticipate teams will check in trying to see if they can get a bargain. But they are not gonna get a bargain. Because you look at him, he’s a piece that the A’s can build around. He’s something that gets fans excited when they eventually move to Sacramento. I just don’t teams being willing to meet the A’s asking price, which is surely going to be astronomically high.”

Even though Murray doesn’t see the Athletics trading Miller as a likely outcome of the upcoming trade deadline, he did add that there is some merit to the organization parting ways with their All-Star closer for the right price.

“That being said though, there is plenty of logic for the A’s to trade Mason Miller. Because they are not close to contending whatsoever. And we’re talking about a guy who is in the closer role. If you’re a non-contending team, you really don’t need a dominant closer. If you traded Mason Miller, you can get an absolute haul for him. They can give you pieces to build around that can really set up the next era of A’s baseball.”

Short and to the Point with Jessica Kleinschmidt is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.