Mason Miller Tops ESPN's MLB Trade Deadline Rankings
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- Mason Miller ranks No. 1 on ESPN's trade board with a 20% likelihood of being dealt, despite San Diego having acquired him less than a year ago for top prospect Leo De Vries — the article notes the Padres would love to attach Xander Bogaerts' contract to a deal, but nobody will take it.
- George Kirby sits at No. 5 with a 50% chance of being traded, the highest of any top-tier starter, and Seattle's openness could jolt a starting pitching market the article describes as 'at a standstill,' with Kirby now the top non-Skubal arm available.
- Three of the top four candidates are shortstops: CJ Abrams (No. 2, 20%), Zach Neto (No. 3, 40%), and Jeremy Peña (No. 4, 25%) — with Neto's status hinging on how much interim Angels GM John Mozeliak can maneuver for owner Arte Moreno.
- Peña hired agent Scott Boras after nearly signing an extension last year, and with only one year of control beyond 2026, Houston faces a choice between moving him before Aug. 3 or waiting until the Dec. 1 lockout, the article notes.
- Abrams ranks No. 2 despite evaluators and defensive metrics agreeing he's not a quality shortstop — his career-high offensive numbers at age 25 create tension that has teams asking whether he should move to second, third, or center field.
- The ranking places Hunter Goodman at No. 7 (20% trade likelihood) despite him never being a top-10 Rockies prospect, with the catcher having hit 30 homers through Colorado's first 101 games after a 31-homer breakout last season.
Why it matters: With Seattle showing a 50% willingness to move George Kirby — a controllable starter through 2028 with plus command and a 97 mph fastball — Kirby becomes the most likely impact starter to change hands, in a market ESPN's analysts describe as 'at a standstill.' Meanwhile, three shortstops crowded into the top four means middle-infield suitors have leverage, and San Diego may have to accept that Bogaerts' contract is unmovable if they deal Miller.
