If you look at the MLB standings, you will see that the Detroit Tigers currently hold the best record in all of baseball. As they look to keep that hot start going down through the summer and fall, could they target Athletics closer Mason Miller in a trade? Continuing a look at possible trade packages for Miller (Cubs trade talks here), we get some insight on the Tigers from Rogelio Castillo of Tigers ML Report and the Motor City Metrics Podcast.
Proposals
Proposal #1
- 3B/2B Jace Jung (Top 3 Tigers prospect; Triple-A, power bat, plus patience)
- RHP Jaden Hamm
- OF Justyn-Henry Malloy (MLB-ready bat, questionable defense)
Why it works: A’s get a near-ready everyday bat in Jung, rotation help with upside in Hamm, and a potential DH/OF in Malloy who fits the Athletics’ timeline.
Proposal #2
- OF Roberto Campos (remains one of Detroit’s more mysterious prospects. He has big raw power and arm strength but is still putting the pieces together at Double-A)
- INF Hao-Yu Lee (a contact-driven infielder with solid bat-to-ball skills and defensive flexibility. Acquired in the Gregory Soto trade, he’s shown strong on-base ability in the high minors)
- LHP Jake Miller (a strike-throwing lefty with a deep pitch mix and potential to rise as a back-end starter or long reliever)
Why It Works: The A’s add a trio of long-term assets with upside. Lee fits the mold of an undervalued middle infielder, Campos brings power potential, and Miller adds developmental pitching depth. It’s the kind of portfolio deal the A’s favor—less immediate, but with long-term return
Which proposal would hurt the Tigers the most?
From a Tigers’ perspective, parting with Jace Jung may hurt the most. He’s a polished college bat, already producing at Triple-A, and could fill a middle-of-the-order hole by 2025. Campos and Lee have upside, but Jung is the safer bet to become an everyday contributor soon. The upside is clear: Mason Miller has the tools to dominate the 8th and 9th innings for years. But the cost will be felt across the infield depth chart.
Where does closer rank on the list of team needs?
It’s near the top, probably #1 or #2, depending on how you view the need for another right-handed bat, however, the Tigers will look within first before giving up prospects for just one player. They need a bat I think more than a bullpen arm., someone who can hit lefties. The bullpen has shouldered a heavy workload, and while Will Vest and Tyler Holton have been solid along with Tommy Kahnle, this may put them over the top.
Miller would instantly shift Detroit’s bullpen hierarchy and add confidence in close games, especially against high-leverage right-handed hitters.
Are there 0ther A’s players the Tigers could realistically target?
- Austin Adams (RHP): Elite strikeout rate, but control issues. A cheap rental for middle relief help.
- Sean Newcomb (LHP): Veteran lefty with swing-and-miss stuff; could stabilize the back end.
- Brett Harris (INF): Blocked at third, Harris is a plus-defender with decent on-base skills and minor league experience.
- Zack Gelof (INF): Unlikely but not untouchable; struggled in 2024 but with athleticism and upside if the A’s choose to sell low.
(Top photo of Comerica Park, courtesy: Gary Shear)
