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The A’s Overpowering Closer

By Anthony Franco | April 25, 2024 at 11:28pm CDT

In what’ll be another rough season for the A’s, the front office is looking for young players to establish themselves as key long-term pieces. In the first few weeks, no one has shown more promise in that regard than Mason Miller.

Miller was a third-round pick in 2021. His stuff had taken a major step forward during his final collegiate season. As The Athletic’s Stephen Nesbitt wrote last week, Miller had a hard time keeping on weight and maintaining his strength until he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2018. While the primary concern was in allowing Miller to navigate a serious health condition, learning how to manage the issue permitted the 6’5″ righty to rapidly bulk up. His velocity spiked into the mid-upper 90s, leading the A’s to roll the dice on his upside.

Injuries essentially robbed Miller of traditional minor league development. He lost almost all of the 2022 season to shoulder issues. He had pitched all of 28 2/3 professional innings before the A’s called him up last April. He had an impressive four-start debut before reporting forearm soreness. Testing revealed a mild UCL sprain and the A’s shut him down for a few months. Miller returned in September, working 2-3 inning stints to finish the year. He closed his rookie campaign with a 3.78 ERA in 33 1/3 innings.

Oakland GM David Forst announced early in the offseason that Miller would work out of the bullpen in 2024. Forst suggested it wasn’t a permanent switch. Rather, the A’s were using the 25-year-old in shorter stints in an effort to keep him healthy before a move back to the rotation in 2025. While they certainly had high hopes that his power arsenal would translate, Miller has surpassed even the loftiest expectations in the first few weeks.

Including tonight’s four-out save in the Bronx, Miller is up to 11 1/3 innings of two-run ball. He has successfully locked down all six of his save chances. After allowing two runs in his season debut against the Guardians, he has rattled off eight straight scoreless outings. Four of those have been perfect innings in which he has recorded multiple strikeouts.

Miller has punched out 23 of 45 opposing hitters, the highest strikeout rate in the majors. His already eye-popping stuff has leveled up in short bursts. Miller’s fastball is sitting in the 100-101 MPH range. Both the heater and his upper-80s slider have been essentially untouchable.

Even in a minuscule sample, it doesn’t seem outlandish to call Miller one of the top relievers in MLB. The quality of the arsenal is self-evident. He’s missing bats at the levels we’ve seen from the likes of Edwin Díaz, Félix Bautista and Andrés Muñoz. Given his injury history, one can question whether he’ll be able to stay healthy all season. There’s no reason to doubt his talent.

Miller fell just shy of the cutoff for a full service year in 2023. The A’s control him for six seasons. He’ll qualify for early arbitration as a Super Two player during the 2025-26 offseason. That’ll allow him to go through the arb process four times instead of the standard three, yet Miller could stick with the A’s through the ’29 campaign.

Opposing teams will probably try to convince Forst to put Miller on the trade block this summer, but it’s hard to see any realistic way that he gets moved. Even rebuilding clubs rarely trade relievers with the kind of talent that he possesses when they’re in their pre-arbitration seasons. That’s before considering that the A’s presumably still intend to give him a chance to compete for a rotation spot next year. If Miller turns in a full season as a top 3-5 reliever in the sport, perhaps they’d consider him too valuable to take out of the bullpen, but there’s nothing to suggest their long-term plans have changed at this point.

Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.

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MLBTR Originals Oakland Athletics Mason Miller

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64 Comments

  1. julyn82001

    1 year ago

    Miller is one of the impressive A’s youngsters. Oakland needs to be cautions with Mason as he has a potent lively arm. Time will tell whether Mason can remain healthy but so far so good!!!

    10
    Reply
    • Shadow Banned

      1 year ago

      He’s gonna be a Dodger this July.

      2
      Reply
      • SODOMOJO

        1 year ago

        Sounds good. Take him off our hands.

        Reply
      • thebirds

        1 year ago

        Yeah?!?? You think so, buddy??!! Well come August, he will be on the IR like the rest… ah… yeah, yeah you’re right. He will be a Dodger in July and dominate.

        Reply
      • GangGreen23

        1 year ago

        Not until his Salary creeps up and over a few Million per season. Right now, he is on his Rookie contract and making under $1M. No reason to trade him this season.

        Reply
        • ARC 2

          1 year ago

          Fisher is probably wishing he could sell him off for millions. I would not be surprised if Fisher does trade him because Fisher doesn’t care if his team wins or lose.

          1
          Reply
  2. LFGMets (Metsin7) #ConsistentlyBannedBaseballExpert

    1 year ago

    Hopefully they won’t try to turn him into a starter. Only a clueless GM would do that

    3
    Reply
    • Jobu's Rum

      1 year ago

      Seth Lugo and KC say hi!

      2
      Reply
      • Chris from NJ

        1 year ago

        Lugo came up as a starter. He has a tear in I believe his UCL. The Mets moved him to the bullpen because of this. KC didn’t turn him into a starter.

        3
        Reply
    • Murphy NFLD

      1 year ago

      This is kinda what happened when the jays had roberto osuna. A young pitcher, with a starters Arsenal that ended up in the pen without much MILB time. Osuna was a hugh end closer for his time in the show and Osuna had 4 plus pitches and a 5th average. This young man has 2 elite offers and even with a get me over change or curve thats all he would need. With the A’s having essitally nothing i think they would be foolish to not put him in the rotation next season id rather have a 2/3 starter then a elite closer

      5
      Reply
    • aragon

      1 year ago

      Angels’ Minasian is already doing it with a youngster.

      Reply
      • conquerbeard

        1 year ago

        Phrasing.

        7
        Reply
    • InsertWittyName

      1 year ago

      The A’s tried that last year. 6 out of his 10 games were starts.

      1
      Reply
    • Os1995

      1 year ago

      They moved him to the closer role after failing as a starter. Doubt they try to make him a starter again.

      Reply
      • LFGMets (Metsin7) #ConsistentlyBannedBaseballExpert

        1 year ago

        @Os1995 Look at Jordan Hicks. He couldn’t start but the Giants have foolishly tried to turn him back into a starter after having success relieving. I don’t care thats hes doing well at the moment, its not going to last all season

        Reply
      • Philly A's

        1 year ago

        They actually moved him to be a closer because he missed a lot of last year after getting hurt. Out of the pen is less stressful (although throwing at 100+mph isn’t really resting). The A’s said they will look to use him as a starter next year.

        Now, I’m not believing he will be on the team next year, but that’s just my opinion based on the A’s history.

        Reply
    • Spaced-Cowboy

      1 year ago

      Marcus Stroman has entered the chat.

      Reply
    • StudWinfield

      1 year ago

      An elite closer on a franchise like the A’s makes no sense. Either you give him an opportunity to start or you trade him in the next couple years if he continues to be this successful in the BP.

      Reply
      • Philly A's

        1 year ago

        Elite is a little premature.. hes 24 and has 6 career saves.

        Reply
  3. Senioreditor

    1 year ago

    Tommy John calling on line 1

    10
    Reply
    • aragon

      1 year ago

      Boo!

      7
      Reply
  4. Old York

    1 year ago

    Countdown to arm injury.

    5
    Reply
  5. Gumby82

    1 year ago

    He’s doing great; so when will they send him to AAA/DFA/Trade him? FU JOHN FISHER!

    6
    Reply
    • Mitchell Page

      1 year ago

      Typical A’s disgruntled fan . I can’t wait to move to Vegas away from you lot . For now I will watch road games

      Reply
      • Paleobros

        1 year ago

        Nobody’s stopping you Mitchell.

        9
        Reply
      • Letsplaytwotomorrow

        1 year ago

        Vegas will have to have Taylor Swift perform between innings to get people in the seats. Competition for entertainment dollars is big here.

        2
        Reply
        • Steinbrenner2728

          1 year ago

          Mitchy Page would like to see how much John Fisher’s wife is too, because he seems adamant to not watch until the A’s finally move there. Bunny Ranch galore.

          1
          Reply
        • User 401527550

          1 year ago

          But people love to spend those entertainment dollars there. I guess you haven’t noticed how well the Knights are doing.

          Reply
        • M.C.Homer

          1 year ago

          Exactly Mets6986. In addition, the population in vegas is significant now. And Most residents are sick of the strip life.

          Reply
        • HomerHose13

          1 year ago

          Talk to Vegas locals and they’ll say the Knights are “their” team since it was an expansion team. Football is king but half the fans at the Raiders games are visiting to cheer for the away team. A bad Baseball team, being relocated, isn’t going bring in the same amount of interest.

          3
          Reply
        • HomerHose13

          1 year ago

          Too bad the stadium proposal has them building right on the Strip haha

          1
          Reply
        • User 3617846742

          1 year ago

          The A’s ownership are hoping they will draw the same type of fans with half for the home team and the other half from the toursist for the other team with the highest gate price in mlb! The Raiders have the highest seat price in the NFL. Beautiful stadium, but I have yet to see a game here, and I’m an old Raider fan from Northern California.

          Reply
        • Spaced-Cowboy

          1 year ago

          Celine Dion is singing the 7th inning stretch

          1
          Reply
        • User 401527550

          1 year ago

          Does it matter who they are rooting for as long as they show up?

          Reply
        • case

          1 year ago

          Their stretch will go on.

          Reply
  6. Mitchell Page

    1 year ago

    Better not move him from the pen . I used to be on the A’s for no power arms in the comments .

    4
    Reply
    • Steinbrenner2728

      1 year ago

      *You used to be on the A’s for them being in Oakland.

      2
      Reply
  7. 5TUNT1N

    1 year ago

    Been watching him throughout the season, was telling my son and my dad how nasty he is.

    4
    Reply
  8. Logjammer D"Baggagecling

    1 year ago

    Jed get on the phone with the A’s and offer Brennan Davis straight up for him. Lmao.

    It’s a joke. It wouldn’t take that much from the cubs to get the A’s closer.

    Reply
  9. astros_fan_84

    1 year ago

    It’s not a crazy idea to trade, but, per the article, it rarely happens.

    Reply
  10. BlueSkies_LA

    1 year ago

    The problem with developing a closer on a team like the A’s is getting him into enough games to see what he’s really got.

    Reply
    • wreckage

      1 year ago

      I’m sure the A’s understand that they don’t just need him to close in the 30 or so games they are afforded to get him some time on the mound. A few games when they are up 7-2 just to get him some time, once in a while when down 5-4, ect. They can find spots for him. A closer doesn’t have to solely “close” games.

      2
      Reply
      • case

        1 year ago

        The A’s just need him to be a beard for a taxpayer funded real estate deal, any configuration of players will do.

        1
        Reply
      • BlueSkies_LA

        1 year ago

        Closing is a specialized role. Relievers who perform well in setup or mop-up roles don’t necessarily perform in high leverage situations (and vice-versa). So putting him into games where he doesn’t have to perform at that level just to get mound time doesn’t do much to develop him as a game saver. Because, as we all should know, this requires more than pitches, it demands a certain mentality. The A’s will have few opportunity to expose him to those situations, obviously.

        Reply
  11. LordD99

    1 year ago

    He’ll be valuable trade material when the A’s arrive in Vegas.

    1
    Reply
  12. Asfan0780

    1 year ago

    He had very little minor league time due to injuries. A’s have a group of power arms with Miller, waldichuk , Medina, boyle, etc thay ideally ypu want as starting pitchers. They did ad 2 veterans I’m spring, wood although expensive that it buys time for those guys. Whenever they are healthy or ready. Paul Blackburn is off to a great start of season and is probably one of their few decent trade chips mid summer

    Reply
  13. Steinbrenner2728

    1 year ago

    This whole article translates into: “Hey guys, John Fisher, Dave Kaval, and David Forst shamelessly told us to tell you all that the A’s are doing mighty fine and they will be an excellent playoff-bound team for decades when they eventually, if ever, move to Las Vegas! Sponsored by GAP, JoeBrady, Mitchy Page (I like how they’re both non-avatar users, too) and the dead last Fisher-owned MLS team San Jose Earthquakes!”

    3
    Reply
  14. whyhayzee

    1 year ago

    Watching him make Juanabee Soda and Error in Judgement look like little leaguers sure is a hoot.

    2
    Reply
    • Old York

      1 year ago

      @whyhayzee

      Not only that but lefty Sears threw some 92 FBs down Broadway and Judge fouled it off. This whole series, the Yankees looked outplayed and had to take the split with the Triple-A A’s.

      1
      Reply
  15. alstott40

    1 year ago

    at least the 5k minor league fans will be super excited the next four years .. go A’s

    1
    Reply
  16. Non Roster Invitee

    1 year ago

    He sure is fun to watch. 104 w movement. Looks real comfortable in closer role.

    Reply
  17. Buff Barnacles

    1 year ago

    The next Bobby Jenks!

    1
    Reply
  18. braves fan 138

    1 year ago

    Future Brave, it’s only a matter of time

    1
    Reply
  19. Dock_Elvis

    1 year ago

    I saw him throw his last start in 2023. He was an absolute stud in the big body Clemens type mold. I had him at 103 a few times. He just just has that fastball plain. He’s a major impact arm in SOME role for sure.

    Reply
  20. sultan of swat

    1 year ago

    Never heard of this kid. Was following the Yankees game last night on phone while watching the draft. Looked down and saw he struck out first 3 guys hitting 101 mph. I said to my son “who’s the A’s closer?” And now this article.

    Reply
  21. Trojan Toss

    1 year ago

    The joke is on the A’s if they leave Oakland.

    The property values around the stadium are skyrocketing and all sorts of movie people and other celebrities are moving into the immediate area around the stadium at record rates. There’s a good reason why the area is widely referred to as ‘Malibu North’ now. Also, the Colliseum is one small renovation away from being a super prime time MLB venue. One small renovation, that’s it.

    The joke is on the “A’s” if they leave Oakland like the pathetic cowards that they are.

    1
    Reply
  22. Heels On The Field

    1 year ago

    Carter Capps, 2015 Marlins.

    Reply
  23. dasit

    1 year ago

    just saw him dominate the yankees. his stuff is insanely good like prime-kimbrel good. the a’s also have a solid 8th inning arm in erceg. i want the a’s to surprise people in their final season so i’m hoping miller’s arm stays attached to his body

    Reply
  24. Doubledown2142

    1 year ago

    Love me some Miller, he is dominate. But who I have been watching closer is Erceg. His control isn’t the best but he seems like he is coming along nicely. That power upper 90s sinker is NASTY.

    1
    Reply
  25. MLBTR needs to hire editors

    1 year ago

    What is the point of this article if not just a cash grab funded by Miller’s agent? There is no transaction news or rumor here. It’s just some stats regurgitated from publicly available sites to say “hey, my guy is good, let me try and get him an extension or more arb money.”

    Just like the recent infusion of ad posts here, a shameless attempt to get dough. And yet another weak attempt by MLBTR to be like Fangraphs.

    Stay in your line: you’re a transactions site, not a stats site. There is nothing novel about this article: “ohhhh so-and-so is good, here are some stats I found that anyone would see if they check is page on Statcast.” And it’s not even remotely comprehensive at only like 6 paragraphs.

    Stop this nonsense.

    2
    Reply
    • Philly A's

      1 year ago

      You must be fun at parties.

      Personally, I enjoy all of the articles here because they are not biased on one team or player (Dodgers/Ohtani; Yankees/Judge, etc).

      If you don’t like the articles on this site move on. No one is making you come here.

      Reply
      • MLBTR needs to hire editors

        1 year ago

        No one is making you defend this site or their writers. Stop telling me what to do. I am well within my rights to offer constructive criticism on articles.

        If you don’t like someone’s opinion in the comments, then move on and don’t worry about it. See? It cuts both ways. At parties, you must be the guy who tells people to leave when they say something you disagree with.

        1
        Reply
        • Philly A's

          1 year ago

          Thanks for mansplaining how other people’s comments work on a website. You got me there.

          Or, I just told you my opinion (see when I said in my post that “I personally like…”) and you’re too much of a keyboard warrior to understand.

          But you go on and make up user names for each site that wrongs you. Either way, I’m enjoying my adult beverage as I read every article that MLB Trade Rumors issues, including the the ones I get via email being a member on this site. Boy would you blow a gasket on those articles.. I could explain but, you just wouldn’t get it.

          Reply
        • CptJack

          1 year ago

          The fact that you can’t see the irony in replying to the guy’s original comment, then your self-righteousness to pay for a version of the site that’s not as-supported makes you lose this argument.

          He gave his opinion. You attacked it when no one asked you to step in and white knight for someone. Then you try and claim superiority and call him a keyboard warrior. You were exactly that when you replied to him.

          You probably should have just butted out.

          Reply

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