{"id":111177,"date":"2025-12-24T00:56:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T05:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=111177"},"modified":"2025-12-24T00:56:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T05:56:46","slug":"closer-trade-game-changer-yankees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/12\/24\/closer-trade-game-changer-yankees\/","title":{"rendered":"This Closer Trade Could Be a Game Changer for the Yankees"},"content":{"rendered":"

The talk of Mason Miller possibly being on the move is polluting the game’s current\u00a0conversations. It\u2019s hard to have that conversation without including the New York Yankees.<\/a> How would such a deal look in its entirety?<\/span><\/p>\n

This Closer Trade Could Be a Game Changer for the Yankees<\/h2>\n

When speaking about the Yankees, there isn\u2019t much to discuss this offseason. Acquisitions have been minimal and not very impactful. The Yankees announced the signings of Amed Rosario and Paul Blackburn<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These two names may provide depth in reserve, but don\u2019t exactly plug the central cavities in the roster. Aside from the offense, the Yankees’ bullpen is hurting.<\/a> Although the departure of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver isn\u2019t detrimental, not filling their spots is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The core of the bullpen may be stable, but the back end is not. David Bednar is currently the on-paper closer for the Yankees, but we all know the caliber that the Yankees need to be successful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Miller would be an exceptional option and a very justifiable trade. His overall profile would be a massive addition to the Yankees’ pitching staff. A trade for Miller would be a huge splash in the pitcher market.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Miller Offers as a Reliever\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What you\u2019d be getting in Miller is simple. A 27-year-old fireball closer with a three-pitch mix and a ton of shelf-life left is what the Bronx bombers could obtain. Miller is in the high percentile in most pitch profile categories.<\/span><\/p>\n

He offers big game on the mound and will be the highest caliber closer the Yankees would have employed since Aroldis Chapman. The closer throws a four-seam fastball up to 101 mph<\/a>, and gasses up on demand.<\/span><\/p>\n

Miller had a slider that\u2019s his put-away option. The slider works up to 87.8 mph with a 37.4 put-away percentage. He also throws a changeup with almost a 10-mph differential from the fastball. The changeup is his least-used pitch.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The right-hander threw 38 and 1 \/ 3 innings for the Athletics this past season. He was then moved to the San Diego Padres and threw 23 and 1 \/ 3 innings for them. Miller finished the year with a total of 22 saves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With more meaningful games and possible postseason play, he can see a lot more than 22 saves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n