This Mariners-Padres blockbuster Mason Miller trade package would have MLB buzzing

Of all the ways to explain Mason Miller's stunning season, being described as a cheat code is easily our favorite. He's the type of pitcher who would significantly boost any bullpen, an area in which the Mariners could use some help. And there is a way of making this become a reality, but potentially at the cost of splitting the players, media and fanbase alike.

Miller is having a campaign for the ages, leading the National League with 25 saves, while producing a jaw-dropping stat line which includes a 0.89 ERA, 0.52 WHIP, 0.836 WHIP and 48.4 percent strikeout rate. He ranks in the 100th percentile in a host of categories, including Fastball Velo, Hard-Hit%, xBA and xERA.

We've already considered the prospect of Miller in Seattle, although Padres general manager A.J. Preller has attempted to shut down any speculation. He advised the deal for the righty was done last year with the intention he was going to be around for a long time. Which is fine, until Preller also said: "And our intent is still the same as when we made the deal last year."

While it sounds like Preller doesn't want to trade Miller, "intent" is pretty weak. Further providing hope for interested teams, the Padres have been trending in the wrong direction in the standings, sitting at 49-50 after at one point being 11 games over .500. As a result the GM is prepared to be open-minded when it comes to what can help the club.

Along these lines, the Padres have a need for starting pitching and we know the Mariners are (reluctantly) prepared to give one up, in order to acquire a back-end reliever and right-handed bat. However, as much as the preference is to move Luis Castillo, that isn't going to get it done, while also appreciating Preller would want more than just Emerson Hancock.

As such, here's a proposition which was successfully run through Baseball Trade Values, and is also guaranteed to get people talking:

The case for trading George Kirby and Michael Arroyo

The most obvious reason is that you get Miller, but we appreciate a lot of Mariners fans are going to need more convincing than just that. So how about the contract situation with Kirby, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2028 season. The Mariners see him as the least likely of a trio which includes Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo, to sign a long-term extension to remain in Seattle.

This is not to indicate the Mariners aren't high on Kirby. However, the organization is just realistic in acknowledging it's unlikely they'll go three-for-three in getting the starting trio locked down, with Kirby seemingly being the biggest question mark. As such, why not move him now for a superior reliever in Miller, who is under team control until 2030.

As for Arroyo, there have been some speed bumps in his development, and Baseball America doesn't even have him in their updated top 100 prospects list. While his bat has been hot the last couple of months, concerns about his defensive capabilities have critics questioning the feasibility of finding him everyday at-bats. The hope is the Padres are enticed enough by his high ceiling, with the Mariners getting a more seasoned right-handed bat in return with Miguel Andujar, who is a career .279 hitter with a .751 OPS.

The case against trading George Kirby and Michael Arroyo

Leaving aside that you can theoretically never have too much good starting pitching, Kirby is more than this. The argument can be made he is actually the most talented member of the Mariners rotation. As such, why move him now, when they can at least get another two years from him?

There are few better pitchers than Kirby when he's on his game, with the added positive that he's also one of the Mariners' more consistent performers. He's renowned for his tremendous K/BB ratio, helped by a career 3.8 walk-rate. And even in a year when he's had his challenges, he's still tied for the team lead with 11 quality starts, in 18 outings.

Going back to Arroyo, he's going out of his way to prove Baseball America wrong, with a reign of terror since coming off the Injured List. And he's actually been better since his promotion to Triple-A, batting .350 in nine games with a .991 OPS and leading some to wonder if he can provide the right-handed bat the Mariners need. It's also worth noting Andujar has a -0.3 bWAR this year, which doesn't inspire much confidence in someone who's primarily a DH these days,.

Conclusion: It wouldn't be an easy trade for either side

This truly is a tough one to decide on either way. On the one hand, you get an elite reliever to compliment but also cover for the erratic Andrés Muñoz. However, you also lose one of your core starters, with the added potential that getting rid of Kirby could compromise morale in the M's clubhouse.

We believe such a trade offer from the Mariners would be one the Padres genuinely consider, with them wanting a haul in return for Miller and Kirby providing a quality starting pitcher upgrade. Jerry Dipoto making such an offer could also allude to his confidence level in Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan succeeding in the majors.

Ultimately though, it's the kind of deal which would be polarizing within both fan bases.

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