Pirates fans need to let go of the Mason Miller trade dream

The Pittsburgh Pirates need bullpen help. That is no secret, as the Pirates ERA in that department is in the bottom-third in the majors. But while Ben Cherington will be on the phone to acquire high-leverage relievers leading up to the MLB trade deadline, one player who should not be on the Pirates short list is Mason Miller.

Miller is arguably the best relief pitcher in all of baseball. He has a 0.91 ERA and made the NL All-Star team in his second season with the San Diego Padres. Given what AJ Preller gave up to acquire Miller — nothing short of a boatload of top prospect capital — it's safe to assume it'd take a similar package to acquire him.

Mason Miller trade rumors shouldn't involve the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Padres were expected to make a postseason run prior to this season. Perhaps they still might, as there are a good 70 games left in the regular season. If not, though, expect Miller's name to be floated in trade rumors leading up to the deadline. As much as the Pirates need bullpen help, it'd cost them a king's ransom to acquire Miller.

Whether it be Seth Hernandez, Edward Florentino or even Hunter Barco, the one thing Cherington has done right in his tenure is build up the Pirates farm system. He'd be ill-advised to punt on all that progress for Miller, a pitcher who can't reasonably be expected to single-handedly turn around the Pirates bullpen issues.

Rather, there is strength in numbers. Pittsburgh already traded the No. 34 overall pick in the MLB Draft to acquire some depth in the infield and bullpen. Left-handed pitcher Brandon Eisert is far from a household name, but he can't be much worse than what the Pirates already have in their 'pen, one would hope.

Who should the Pirates acquire instead of Mason Miller at the trade deadline?

Miller is worth a phone call, but little more. Once Preller names his asking price, Cherington ought to hang up and search elsewhere. For the price of Miller, the Pirates could acquire at least two high-leverage relief pitchers on expiring deals. Antonio Senzatela comes to mind, as the Rockies closer offers team control (he has a club option for 2027) and productivity in the back end of any bullpen (he has a 3.31 ERA on the season).

The Pirates have one of the best lineups in baseball, and a starting rotation to match. What they are lacking is a bullpen that can be relied upon in big moments. If Pittsburgh is to actually make a playoff run in 2026, they'll need just that. Pirates fans' heads are in the right place when theorizing possible Miller trade packages. They just have the wrong trade deadline asset.

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