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Padres manager Craig Stammen confirmed Wednesday that Miller will serve as the team's closer in 2026, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
The announcement was merely a formality, as Miller always appeared likely to open the season as the Padres' closer once Stammen confirmed in December that the 27-year-old righty would remain in the bullpen in 2026 and after Robert Suarez bolted for Atlanta in free agency. After being acquired from the Athletics last July in a stunning deadline deal, Miller turned in a 0.77 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 45 strikeouts to go along with two saves in 23.1 innings to close out the Padres' regular season. Now that he's in line to receive the overwhelming majority of save chances in San Diego to go along with his typically pristine ratios, Miller has a strong argument for being the first closer off the board in fantasy drafts.
Padres' Mason Miller: Avoids arbitration with Padres
Rotowire
Miller signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Padres on Thursday to avoid arbitration.
It's a nice raise for Miller in his first season of arbitration eligibility. The right-hander opened 2025 with the Athletics before being traded to the Padres in July, and between both teams he posted a 2.63 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 10 holds, 22 saves (out of 26 opportunities) and a 104:28 K:BB across 61.2 regular-season innings. Miller served as more of a setup man for the Padres after being the Athletics' top closer. However, with Robert Suarez signing with Atlanta during the offseason, Miller figures to step in as San Diego's closer for the 2026 campaign.
Padres manager Craig Stammen said Monday that Miller will remain in the bullpen next season, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
The Padres mulled the idea of shifting Miller to their rotation, but Stammen noted Monday that that move would have been "a risky proposition health-wise and performance-wise." With confirmation that he'll stay in the bullpen, Miller should open 2026 as the Padres' closer and has a strong case to be the first reliever to be taken in fantasy drafts. The 27-year-old boasts a 2.56 ERA and 43.1 percent strikeout rate over the last two regular seasons, notching 50 saves over that time.
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