A's prospect haul for Miller includes De Vries, No. 3 MLB prospect

WEST SACRAMENTO -- Even as they sat in last place in the American League West ahead of Thursday’s Trade Deadline, the Athletics did not fancy themselves as “sellers” in the traditional sense because of the core group of young talent in place that they believe will be ready to compete for the playoffs next season.

Given that outlook, trading key players on their current roster was something the A’s would only consider if they could get players back in return who fit that timeline as pieces that would make an impact in the near future.

Before Thursday’s 3 p.m. PT Deadline, the A’s found a deal that was to their liking from the Padres, sending closer Mason Miller and left-hander JP Sears to the Padres for shortstop Leo De Vries and right-handers Braden Nett, Henry Baez and Eduarniel Núñez.

TRADE DETAILS
Padres get: RHP Mason Miller, LHP JP Sears
A's get: SS Leo De Vries (MLB Pipeline No. 3 overall prospect), RHP Braden Nett (Padres' No. 3), RHP Henry Baez (No. 13), Eduarniel Núñez (No. 17)

“Obviously, the interest [in Miller and Sears] was very high,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “Ultimately, it took a player the caliber of De Vries to get our attention and get us to the negotiating table. … In Mason’s case, we knew it was going to take something special. When the Padres suggested they were open to including Leo, that’s kind of when this got serious.”

De Vries is the headliner in this prospect package going back to the A’s. Rated as the No. 3 overall prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, the switch-hitting 18-year-old shortstop was signed by the Padres as the No. 1 prospect on the international market and quickly found success in the California League with Single-A Lake Elsinore, posting a .966 OPS over his final 35 games. He’s spent this season at High-A Fort Wayne, where he’s slashing .245/.357/.410 in 82 games with 31 extra-base hits, including eight home runs, and eight stolen bases. De Vries will likely report to High-A Lansing.

“He is an incredibly special talent,” Forst said. “Guys who are ranked as highly are very infrequently available, so it was something we had to take seriously. It was also important that we back that up with a number of other players, particularly pitching, because that was always going to be our focus going into this deadline.”

Nett, who turned 23 in June, features a power fastball that can reach up to 99 mph and generates plenty of swing and miss up in the zone. He’s made 17 starts for Double-A San Antonio this season, posting a 3.39 ERA with 86 strikeouts and 34 walks in 74 1/3 innings. High walk rates have led some scouts to believe he might end up a reliever, though the A’s will allow Nett and his promising five-pitch mix to remain in a starting role for now.

Baez, 22, enjoyed a breakout ‘24 as the Padres Minor League Pitcher of the Year and is currently putting together another strong year for Double-A San Antonio. The right-hander has a 1.96 ERA in 20 starts, with 89 strikeouts and 31 walks over 96 2/3 innings.

Núñez will join the A’s in West Sacramento for Friday night’s series opener against the D-backs as a reliever. The 26-year-old has explosive stuff with a fastball that has been clocked as high as 101.4 mph this season and an upper-80s slider that is considered an even better pitch than the heater. Inconsistencies in his delivery have led to some control issues at times, but Núñez’s electric stuff projects as a quality high-leverage arm in the back end of the bullpen.

With relief pitching seemingly at a premium this trade season, it’s easy to understand why Miller brought back such a haul. The 26-year-old closer is following up an All-Star/All-MLB 2024 campaign with another strong season. Following some struggles earlier in the year, Miller is now up to 20 saves and has not allowed a run over his past 11 appearances. For the season, Miller’s 13.85 strikeouts per nine innings is fourth best (min. 1/3 innings pitched per game) in the Majors.

Miller is also under team control through the 2029 season, which is why the A’s were not eager to move the hard-throwing righty unless the right move came along. That opportunity presented itself.

The A’s will lose one of their most reliable starters of the past few years in Sears. Since joining the rotation on Aug. 10, 2022, the durable left-hander has essentially not missed a turn in the rotation, with his 86 starts over that time among the league leaders. Sears is another controllable pitcher, as he is not set to hit free agency until 2029.

“It’s not easy moving guys like Mason and JP, who have been so instrumental on the field and in the clubhouse for us,” Forst said. “We ultimately want to be in the position where we’re bringing those guys in and not sending them out. It’s not an easy decision, and it’s one we spent a lot of time on the last few weeks.”