According to MLB Insider Bob Nightengale, the Philadelphia Phillies are set to be one of the “most aggressive” teams as the 2025 MLB trade deadline approaches.

One area of need for the ballclub is the bullpen. The Phillies are in desperate need of another relief pitcher (or three) to solidify a bullpen that has been anything but trustworthy so far this season. The Fightins have previously been linked to Athletics’ closer Mason Miller. The 2024 American League All-Star will be the hottest name on the trade market, but does he make sense for the Phillies and, more importantly, what would it take to land him?

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About Mason Miller

According to MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal, the A’s and Phillies engaged in trade talks last winter during the Fightins quest to move on from Alec Bohm. The Athletics were interested in the embattled Phillies infielder but balked at the inclusion of Miller in the deal. 

Originally a starter when first drafted by the then Oakland Athletics, Miller transitioned into a reliever role after suffering an elbow injury during the 2023 Triple-A Las Vegas season. The move paid off. In 2024, Miller appeared in 55 games for the A’s and notched 28 saves, 108 strikeouts, with a 2.49 ERA and an 0.877 WHIP. The performance earned Miller his first All-Star selection and second-team All-MLB honors. 

The now 26-year-old has struggled in 2025 amidst high expectations. For the 2025 season, Miller has been uncharacteristically inefficient. As of June 17, the righty is 1-2 with 14 saves, 45 strikeouts, 14 walks, 3 home runs, a 5.13 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP. 

Despite popular belief, Miller’s 2025 season to date has nothing to do with the A’s playing in a minor league park. A quick glance at Statcast shows Miller’s four-seam fastball is living in the zone more than previous seasons. This allows hitters to barrel up Miller’s go to pitch at nearly double the rate from last season. Even Miller’s secondary pitch, his slider, is catching more of the zone in 2025 than it did in 2024. 

Still, despite a step back in 2025, Miller is one of the top bullpen arms potentially available during the 2025 MLB trade deadline.

Why Mason Miller Makes Sense for the Phillies

Miller would provide an immediate jolt of energy to the Phillies’ bullpen that is struggling to find their way. A true closer, Miller would give manager Rob Thomson a bonafide All-Star option at the back end for the Phillies. Having a guy that averages 100-mph is never a bad option for a team that is trying to keep their championship window open.

Mason Miller DESTROYING Hitters. pic.twitter.com/1LOLhXdiL9

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 7, 2025

Why Mason Miller Doesn’t Make Sense for the Phillies

It’s going to take a haul to get Miller into Phillies pinstripes and, frankly, it should. Miller is under team control through the 2029 MLB season. Trading for him will require the Phillies to give up some major pieces, possibly including top tier prospects Mick Abel, Justin Crawford, Aidan Miller, or Eduardo Tait. 

Those players represent the future of the ballclub, which in some cases, isn’t all too far off. Heck, Abel is with the big club now and showing why he was so highly thought of by the baseball scouting world. As for Crawford and Miller, both are projected to be key pieces of the ballclub by as early as next season. Moving on from them doesn’t make sense.

Final Thoughts on Mason Miller

Miller might be the missing piece to the Phillies bullpen and, as everyone saw in the 2023 National League Championship Series, that could be the difference between an early exit and another parade down Broad St.  Giving up a current position player such as Brandon Marsh or Johan Rojas, Abel and a series of prospects such as Moises Chace and/or Dante Nori would definitely make sense. Frankly, the Phillies would be dumb to not jump all over a scenario such as that.

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