Pirates fans' Mason Miller trade dreams have been crushed before they even began

Now that it's common knowledge that the Pittsburgh Pirates will spend the days leading up to the trade deadline searching for bullpen help of any kind, it's kind of hard to ignore the fact that the best player who could potentially be available just so happens to be the best closer in baseball.

Yes, Mason Miller is rumored to be on the trade block, and it's hard to ignore the Pittsburgh native's fit with the 2026 Buccos. He'd instantly assume the mantle of closer in his hometown, leaving no room to argue about the bullpen hierarchy. Whether you want to go by ERA (0.86), FIP (0.51), fWAR (2.6), strikeout rate (48.8%), or opponent batting average (.146), he's hands down the best relief pitcher in baseball.

So, what's the hold up? Well, it appears that if the San Diego Padres sell at the deadline, they don't plan to give away their best pitcher without any strings attached. According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune, any prospective trade partner would also have to assume the ugly, bloated contract belonging to Xander Bogaerts.

Xander Bogaerts baggage instantly removes Pirates from Mason Miller market

Even before we acknowledge the $280 million elephant in the room, it's worth considering the fact that Miller will cost any acquiring team a fortune in a trade. The Padres surrendered Leo De Vries (one of the best prospects in recent history) and more for the flamethrowing closer, and he's only become more dominant since arriving in San Diego. It's hard to believe that the Pirates, long known for hoarding prospects under Ben Cherington, would go all-in on this team by trading most of their best assets for a single reliever.

The idea of adding Bogaerts' contract to the mix makes sense from that perspective; eat a good chunk of his bloated salary over the next seven years, and you won't have to give up quite so much prospect talent to acquire Miller. It's sort of a win-win scenario... assuming you have the cash to on hand to pay out such an onerous contract.

If there's one thing Bob Nutting's Pirates aren't known for, it's spending money. Yes, they increased thier budget ahead of the 2026 season and it has paid dividends, but this is a different league of payroll increase. Bogaerts is owed nearly $25.5 million until the 2033 season, when he'll be 40 years old.

Miller is great. Heck, he's transcendtal. He'd completely change the outlook of the Pirates' bullpen with his mere presence. But there is no possible reality in which Nutting accepts the responsibility of paying out even half of Bogaerts' remaining deal, especially on the precipice of an economy-shifting lockout.

Relief help will come at the trade deadline. It just won't be in the form of the best closer in baseball.

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