After getting eliminated by the Chicago Cubs in the NLWC, the San Diego Padres will be transitioning to the upcoming offseason.
Free agency will be an interesting topic for the Padres this offseason, as their pitching staff is expected to look somewhat different for the 2026 season.
Dylan Cease will be taking on free agency, Michael King has a mutual option that needs to be addressed to determine his future in San Diego, and reports believe that Robert Suarez is most likely opting out of his contract to test out free agency. What will this mean for the Padres' pitching staff moving forward?
AJ Preller says that Mason Miller could become a starter for Padres in 2026
One big splash general manager AJ Preller and the Padres made this season was trading for closer Mason Miller back in July.
Miller, 27, came in at the back half of the season and excelled for the Padres. Through 22 appearances for San Diego, he finished with a 0.77 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts in 23.1 innings.
Even though Miller was lights out at closing ballgames, San Diego sports radio 97.3 The Fan reported that AJ Preller and Mason Miller will be having conversations about possibly transitioning to the starting rotation in 2026.
Miller started his major league career as a starter for the Athletics in 2023, but after just six starts, he transitioned to a closing role and emerged as one of the best closers in the MLB.
A few years later, Miller could be moving back into the starting role he held when he entered the league. This time, the flamethrower brings greater experience and a stronger sense of command at the mound.
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