Before the Padres pulled off their blockbuster deadline trade for closer Mason Miller, the Dodgers had been linked to the A’s All-Star — though in the end, no deal materialized.
With both Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates on the injured list, the Dodgers seemed poised to land a new closer during the summer, but nothing came to fruition.
Meanwhile, multiple teams made bold deadline plays: the Yankees added Camilo Doval and David Bednar; the Rays picked up Griffin Jax; the Mets grabbed Ryan Helsley; the Phillies secured Jhoan Duran — and Miller landed with the Padres.
The Dodgers, however, took a more cautious route, signing reliever Brock Stewart and outfielder Alex Call instead.
In contrast, the Padres’ A.J. Preller executed a whirlwind: on July 31 alone, he pulled off five trades involving 22 players. At the center was Miller — the most coveted arm in the relief market — who instantly became the crown jewel of the deadline.
It wasn’t long before the Padres brought Miller into their clubhouse—and spelled out the rivalry clearly. “They told me right away,” Miller said on Foul Territory. “‘Obviously, we don’t like those guys a whole lot.’”
Now, with a crucial three-game series starting August 15 between the league’s two NL West powers, the stage is set. The Padres trail the Dodgers by just two games, the division race is heating up — and after June’s benches-clearing game and fiery managerial ejections, the next clash promises even more intensity.