Athletics right-hander Mason Miller has broken out as one of the most dominant relievers in the world this year, which will lead to an interesting decision about his future role. He tells Bob Nightengale of USA Today that he’s open to returning to the rotation down the line but also appears somewhat tempted to stick where he’s having success.
“I don’t think I want to close that opportunity,” Miller said of possibly starting someday. “If the opportunity presents itself, maybe, but with the success I’ve had [as a closer], I think it’s a difficult decision to say I want to get away from that.”
Miller, 25, was primarily a starter in college but wasn’t able to stay healthy in his first few professional seasons. He was drafted in 2021 but then was held back by a shoulder strain in 2022, limited to just 14 innings over six minor league starts. Last year, he made two minor league starts and four in the majors before landing on the injured list with forearm tightness. He was eventually diagnosed with a sprained UCL in his throwing elbow and avoided surgery but wasn’t able to return until September.
In December, general manager David Forst discussed Miller’s situation, with Martín Gallegos of MLB.com relaying his sentiments on X. Forst said the club was planning to have Miller serve in a relief role in 2024, with a return to starting a possibility down the road, but they wanted him to stay healthy for a full season first.
As mentioned, 2024 has been a banner year for Miller so far in that relief role. He already has 15 saves and a 2.27 earned run average in 39 2/3 innings. He has struck out an incredible 46.7% of batters faced. Among pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched this year, Josh Hader is second in the strikeout rate category but well behind Miller at 40.4%. He has been selected to his first All-Star team this year.
If Miller stays healthy in the second half, the question will turn to what comes next and it appears the A’s don’t yet have a firm decision. “I don’t know,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said to Nightengale. The skipper added that he didn’t want to rule anything it out but they are still focused on keeping Miller healthy in 2024, before addressing the inherent pros and cons of the decision. “There’s more value there in the innings, but obviously there’s more impact with the opportunity for us to win a game at the back end with him being the closer.’’
This season, various players have attempted to the reliever-to-starter move, with varying degrees of success. MLBTR’s Steve Adams recently took a look at the results, with Garrett Crochet and Reynaldo López two of the best success stories with A.J. Puk on the other end of the spectrum.
The A’s control Miller for another five seasons after this one and are currently rebuilding. That gives them some leeway to experiment if they and Miller decide that they want to, but there would also be an argument for simply continuing with what’s working. Many closers around baseball are former starters who were put into late-inning roles due to health issues or workload concerns, then were simply kept there because it was working.
Miller is one of the hardest throwers in baseball, averaging 100.9 miles per hour. He already has the UCL sprain and the significant shoulder strain on his track record. He would likely have to pull back on the velocity a bit if he were to move into a starter’s role but it would still be a new challenge keeping his body healthy for the marathon of starting for a full season, as opposed to the high-octane relief role he’s been in this year.
Broadly speaking, having an effective starting pitcher give a club 150 to 200 quality innings is more valuable than 50 to 60 innings of relief work. That’s why the best starting pitchers are paid more than the best relievers, both in arbitration and in free agency. Controllable starters also tend to bring back larger returns when traded, as compared to their relief counterparts. Miller has been speculated as a trade candidate this season, reportedly drawing lots of interest, though with the A’s setting a high asking price. They would likely have to be blown away to trade five-plus years of such a dominant pitcher and the possibility of him returning to a rotation down the line could conceivably give him even more trade value at some point.
Both the A’s and Miller would stand to benefit if he could successfully take on a rotation role, but whether they pursue it or not could depend on the comfort level from both sides, as well as the ongoing monitoring of his health.
MLB Fanatic
Don’t fix what’s not broken, Bob.
brodie-bruce
Idk it worked for wanio
LordD99
Seems to be working for Michael King, too. That aside, there is an injury history here with Miller and medicals, by reports, that are problematic. His value is as high as it will ever be. The A’s really should cash in.
fjmendez
They can probably get Holliday straight up from the Orioles.
Dustyslambchops23
They have a better closer that will be coming back for 2025. I doubt they trade the best prospect chip in the game for setup man
danumd87 2
No chance. But they could probably get Kerstad +. Kjerstad and Norby would be a haul they couldn’t possibly pass up. That might make sense for both clubs.
LFGSD619
It isn’t broken. Miller pitched well as a starter in 2023.
Easy as 1 2 3
This should be an interview question
“What’s your philosophy on converting highly effective relievers back into starting rotation options”
Anything other than “not a good idea” should be met with thank you for your time we will call you (no we won’t).
GareBear
Philosophically I agree, and especially in this case. But that is a crazy thing to say when the best pitcher in the AL converted from relief this season.
TigersLoveCinnamon
Hicks did very well early on. I’ll bet he approaches 200 innings with much success next year
Doug Fistered
I remember Johathan Papelbon said the same thing, and he never started another MLB game again
NYCityRiddler
He’s open to doing what he’s told, period. Ahahaha!
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
He should stay as a reliever, as a starter he would not be able to throw 104 again (which would be sad) and since he gets less innings as a reliever then he has a lower chance at going through major surgery
Old York
What about combination starter and closer? You could start your game, go the 4 or 5 innings as most starters and then come back for the 9th to save the game.
Unclemike1525
Old York- Only if you had a fake mustache and 2 passports. When you’re out you’re out. LOL
HatlessPete
Mason Miller? Who is this Maaon Miller? My name is Guy Incognito
Murphy NFLD
See in theory this works. Guys throw side sessions in between starts so a guy could start and 2-3 days later come in for 25 pitches or whatever it is
Chuck from Uniontown
I’d like to see the A’s or another team out of the race just do something real different.
No rotation, have a bunch of guys that go 3 innings each just to see what happens over time. Does that make it harder for hitters to get into a groove basically seeing guys only 1-2 times every time instead of 3? Maybe it just gives you more opportunities to see what guys could potentially do as starters in a contention year. Maybe it just doesn’t do anything worthwhile.
Captain Dunsel
Rojas, Abel, Klassen, and Crawford (plus a few lesser prospects) for Rooker and Miller. Who says no?
LFGMets (Metsin7) #ConsistentlyBannedBaseballExpert
@Captain Dunsel Oakland would block their number if thats the offer they got
User 401527550
More like if you want them both
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shark stitches
It would be closer to Rojas, Abel, Klassen, and Crawford for Miller alone. And that’s still a little light according to BTV.
Unclemike1525
I highly doubt with his injury history that anyone will give a haul for this guy. I think it’s great he’s having some injury free success. The five years of control is enticing but 4 years on the IL or rehab isn’t exactly promising. I would expect he finishes the season there to see if he lasts, Then maybe in the off season somebody makes a huge play. I’d be highly surprised if someone dumps a haul based on a half season. But I’ve been completely shocked by things teams do before.
Murphy NFLD
The blue jays had a very similar situation with Roberto Osuna a few years back. He also was a starter who had 4 average or better pitches but due to being young and having a TJ in the recent past he was used as a relief pitcher and ended up being one of the better options in his few years in the league. Mason has better numbers
DylanMooreIsAThirdBaseman
As long as he doesn’t act like Osuna, it would be a good plan.
MacGromit
Osuna had a different kind of TJ that destroyed his career.
He was a self destructive, Terrible Jerk (TJ).
johnnybadd2019
Big mistake
Mickey Solis
Why does any player talk to that redneck, Dodger/loving loser “reporter” Boob Nightengale anyway? And isn’t every reliever just a failed starter anyway?
MLB Fanatic
I don’t care for his reporting while he’s been sportswriting since 1978. He’s really a “TMZ Sports” reporter often stating his opinions confidently with no source. There’s an audience for that kind of “news”.
danray13
Go ahead and start scheduling TJ surgery. Stay as closer u be stupid to move back to roto.
Doubledown2142
Fun thought but it won’t happen. That ship has sailed. Would he do it if they told him to? Sure. But A’s won’t mess with a good thing.