The Dodgers just grabbed Tarik Skubal, and that could leave the White Sox hunting for the next blockbuster arm before Monday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline. One name still hovering around Chicago: Padres closer Mason Miller.
Miller has been linked to both Chicago clubs, with the White Sox viewed as a team capable of making an aggressive late push. His numbers explain the buzz: a 0.84 ERA, 26 saves and 79 strikeouts through 42⅔ innings entering the deadline stretch. That is not a rental profile, either. Miller remains under team control for three more seasons, which is why San Diego can demand a massive return. )
What is known? Chicago needs more high-leverage firepower, and Miller would instantly give the White Sox one of baseball’s nastiest ninth-inning weapons. What is reported? Rival teams believe San Diego could still listen if someone overwhelms the Padres with a prospect-heavy offer. What is speculation? The White Sox may now feel extra pressure to respond after Los Angeles removed the market’s biggest starting-pitching prize.
The asking price could start with a premium young player and several high-end prospects, potentially approaching the kind of package San Diego received when it acquired Miller last summer. That makes a deal difficult, but not impossible. If Chicago wants to make a statement, Miller is the type of move that changes the entire clubhouse—and the AL playoff race.