Intriguing Red Sox Trade Target is Now Available

With the Oakland/Sacramento soon-to-be Las Vegas Athletics blowing up the whole franchise, the flamethrowing 25-year-old A's closer Mason Miller could be on the trade block.

Miller is 8-for-8 on save opportunities so far in 2024 and was tabbed as the American League reliever of the month after his impressive start. Per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, an A's team source relayed that multiple teams have reached out to Oakland to inquire about Miller.

Mason Miller is the Perfect Trade Target for Red Sox

Per Rosenthal, Oakland is currently placing a "steep" asking price on Miller, "with no team willing to part with the young MLB players or prospects required to make a trade happen." No intel has emerged as to what a "step asking price" might entail, so it is hard to speculate who from the Red Sox roster might have to back their bags to make this trade happen.

Like many high-velocity arms in the modern game, Miller has a history of elbow injuries, which resulted in his transition from a starter to a bullpen role. His fastball velocity averages 100.8 mph in 2024, the highest mark in MLB. This could give teams some pause.

Miller's contract situation will also jack up his price. He is currently earning only $740,000 and has four years of team control remaining.

The Red Sox's high-leverage bullpen arms are on the back nine of their careers. Kenley Jansen, who has been linked to trade out of Boston, isn't getting any younger at 36 years old, and Sox set-up man Chris Martin turns 38 in June. Needless to say, Boston could use a little youth injection among the back end of their bullpen.

Given Miller's age and performance, the Red Sox will be far from the only ones to pick up the phone. With the third-ranked farm system in baseball, Boston should be one of the better-positioned teams to meet Oakland's price.

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