Mason Miller was considered one of the most popular targets for playoff contenders at the MLB trade deadline. However, the rocket-armed reliever will not be available for the next two weeks.
The Oakland Athletics placed Miller on the 15-day injured list on Thursday due to a fractured little finger on his left hand. The broken finger is on his non-throwing hand, and the A’s have placed Miller on the IL retroactive to July 23meaning he could return on August 7th.
When Miller’s injury was reported, there were different stories about how he broke his finger. Initially, Miller allegedly fractured his hand when he banged it on a training table in frustration. So the story was that Miller “awkwardly placed his hand” on the table while preparing to do an exercise, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay later indicated that Miller had actually injured himself in an emotional outburst.
“Out of a bit of frustration, he simply banged his fist on a padded training table in excitement,” said Kotsay, via Brent Maguire of MLB.com. “We’ve all been there, done that.”
The prevailing thought is that Oakland is unlikely to trade Miller because he will have five years of control of the club after this season. He is not eligible for arbitration until the 2027 season.
That makes Miller the type of low-cost asset a small-market team like the A’s would prefer to keep. And it almost certainly means Oakland would ask for a huge amount in exchange for a player they don’t yet want to trade.
The A’s could also turn Miller back into a starting pitcher, according to Tyler Kepner of Atlético. He was a starter in the minors before being called up last season and started six games for the A’s last year. As a starter, Miller could be an even more valuable asset in the future.
Miller, who will soon turn 26, has struck out 70 batters in 40 2/3 innings with a 2.21 ERA and 15 saves in 34 starts this season. He impressed national audiences during the MLB All-Star Game when he reached 103.6 mph on the radar gun. Each of the fastballs he threw during his appearance exceeded 100 mph.
No MLB pitcher has thrown more pitches 100 mph or faster this season than Miller, who has done so 306 times.
Oakland activated pitcher Ross Stripling from the 15-day IL to take Miller’s roster spot.
This likely won’t be the last time Miller is discussed as a trade possibility for the A’s. That might not happen this season, broken hand or not.
