Preller brought flame-throwing closer Mason Miller along with starter J.P. Sears to San Diego in a deal with the A’s, trading away No. 3 overall prospect Leo De Vries and three other top-20 prospects in the Padres’ system.

The Padres already employ a solid closer in the form of Robert Suarez. But Miller is younger, cheaper, and under team control through 2029. Preller can now package Suarez to another club in order to improve the club’s lineup. Or he can stand pat and boast a super ‘pen.