Baseball’s August 3 trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and the chaos is already cranked up to 11. Everyone’s talking about the biggest names, but the truth is, most of them are probably staying put, making any real game-changing moves feel almost impossible right now. It’s a tough market to navigate, especially if you’re looking for that one guy to push a team forward.
The Godfather Offer Needed for MLB’s Best Reliever
San Diego wasn’t supposed to be a seller, but an 18-31 slide since May 24 has completely blown up their plans. Now, Mason Miller’s name is all over the place, and Padres GM A.J. Preller, known for his shocking trades, has “not ruled out anything.” Miller is a two-time All-Star, and honestly, he’s the best reliever in MLB, full stop. The guy is lights out! Plus, he’s under club control all the way through 2029, which makes him a gold mine. The Padres literally just traded their No. 2 prospect, Leo De Vries, to get him last year from the A’s.
So, when the New York Yankees, reportedly “enamored” with Miller, start dangling slugging outfielders Spencer Jones and Jasson Domínguez, you know it’s a “hard no” from San Diego. They’re not messing around. It’s gonna take a “Godfather offer” to pry Miller loose from the Padres. We’re talking about a king’s ransom, and only a few GMs in the league might even consider it. Our own Jerry Dipoto of the Seattle Mariners is mentioned as one of the few who *could* prove everyone wrong and swing for the fences. What would that even look like?!
That Lindor Deal? Yeah, Forget About It.
While Miller’s price tag is sky-high, another massive name probably isn’t going anywhere: Francisco Lindor. The New York Mets are in last place in the NL East, sitting at a brutal 42-59, so yeah, they’re “open for business.” Chelsea Janes of SNY even said Lindor isn’t “off the table.” He’s 32, not ancient, and he’s shown signs of living up to his rep as a second-half hitter after averaging 5.9 rWAR per 162 games for 11 seasons. You see the talent, right?
But man, that contract is an absolute nightmare. Lindor is still owed a staggering $186.4 million through 2031, with a $34.1 million annual salary. The Mets would have to swallow most of that cash or pull off an “improbable” bad contract swap just to move him. Owner Steve Cohen isn’t about to make a “catastrophic sell-low play” and just eat all that money. Add in a full no-trade clause, and you’ve got too many barriers. This deal is better off being held for the offseason, if it ever happens.
The August 3 deadline is barreling down on us, and the trade market is a total minefield. Getting real impact talent is gonna take a “Godfather offer” or a miracle. Our guy Jerry Dipoto has his work cut out for him if he’s gonna pull off anything shocking. Hold onto your hats, M’s fans, this is gonna be tense!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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