The San Diego Padres made waves on the commerce deadline as soon as once more, and veteran third baseman Manny Machado had so much to say about it. Following the San Diego commerce deadline acquisition of All-Star nearer Mason Miller, the workforce despatched a transparent message. The window to win is now.
In a postgame interview after the Padres’ 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night time, the third baseman was requested in regards to the deal by 97.3 The Fan, a San Diego sports activities radio station. The outlet later took to X (previously generally known as Twitter) to share the alternate, the place Machado didn’t maintain again on the entrance workplace’s transfer to accumulate Miller from the Athletics.
“I am by no means shocked about something we do on the deadline, let’s be sincere. However yeah, I imply, including one other nearer for a number of years—top-of-the-line within the recreation—that’s large. Final 12 months, we did one thing comparable. We had top-of-the-line bullpens, and this 12 months I believe we’re topping that. So once more, it is as much as us now to go on the market, end it off, and play our greatest baseball.”
Miller, 26, made his Padres debut Friday night time. Getting into with runners on the corners and one out, he wanted only one pitch to induce an inning-ending double play. He then adopted it up with a 102.8 mph fastball — the quickest pitch in franchise historical past — in a flawless eighth inning look. The previous Athletics nearer brings 48 profession saves and a 3.14 ERA to a San Diego bullpen that already leads the league in save conversions.
This marks the second consecutive 12 months that the Padres bullpen upgrades have headlined the deadline. In 2024, San Diego added Tanner Scott and Jason Adam, serving to push them previous the Atlanta Braves within the 2024 NL Wild Card sequence. This time, Miller is joined by Ryan O’Hearn, Ramon Laureano, Freddy Fermin, and J.P. Sears — all a part of the membership’s aggressive commerce technique.
Machado, now in his 14th MLB season, is aware of how a lot these strikes can shift momentum. He emphasised that preserving Dylan Stop and Robert Suarez intact whereas including high-leverage arms reveals the entrance workplace’s confidence. The stress, he stated, is now on the gamers.
With San Diego using a three-game house win streak and holding a 61-49 report, the additions arrive at a vital time. Miller’s arrival could show pivotal in a postseason run, and Machado’s management continues to mirror a locker room aligned with the franchise’s championship aspirations.
Whether or not the transfer brings the membership nearer to its first World Sequence title stays to be seen, however the Padres have as soon as once more doubled down on profitable now — and their unofficial captain has made it clear he’s totally on board.