The San Diego Padres were a juggernaut in 2025, thanks mostly to their lockdown bullpen, anchored by closer Robert Suarez and setup man Mason Miller, who was acquired on July 31st from the Athletics. The Padres are now considering transitioning Miller to the starting rotation ahead of the 2026 season.
General Manager A.J. Preller told “97.3, The Fan” on Tuesday that the Padres will have more communication with the players moving forward when asked about Mason Miller potentially moving into the starting rotation next year. Preller added that the team will be in touch in the coming weeks for that type of conversation.
Padres May Move Mason Miller to Starting Rotation
AJ Preller was asked if Mason Miller has been given a directive to prepare to move to the starting rotation or if he’ll remain in the bullpen in 2026 and if he expects Yu Darvish to be in the team’s starting rotation next season: pic.twitter.com/fqlsWEeMEv
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) October 14, 2025
When Miller first came up in 2023 with the Athletics, he began as a starter, and the numbers were solid overall, posting a 3.78 ERA in 33 1/3 innings. The best part? Miller had a 26.7% K rate, which would play very well as a starter for years to come. Looking at his Baseball Savant page, Miller has an arsenal that would play well as a starter, featuring a fastball, cutter, slider, and changeup, all with different breaking points that can fool hitters.
Potential Problems
With all the positives, there are two clear cautions to this move from the Padres’ perspective. The first concern centers on Miller’s health and workload. Given how hard he throws — routinely touching 102–103 mph — the added strain of pitching multiple innings per outing significantly increases the risk of arm fatigue or injury over a full season. This was precisely why the Athletics transitioned Miller to the bullpen in 2023 after his early starts, hoping to preserve his electric stuff by limiting exposure and pitch counts. The Padres must be cautious not to jeopardize his long-term durability by ramping up his innings too aggressively.
The second issue relates to bullpen depth and late-game reliability. With reports indicating that Robert Suárez is likely to opt out of his contract and test free agency, San Diego could find itself without a proven closer if Miller shifts into a starting role. Losing both Suárez and Miller from the back end of the bullpen would leave a significant void, and the organization doesn’t currently have many internal candidates with closing experience or the elite velocity required to fill that role. The Padres may need to explore the free-agent or trade market to stabilize the ninth inning should they fully commit to Miller’s transition to the rotation.
Main Photo Credit: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images
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