San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller has confirmed he will remain in the bullpen rather than transitioning to a starting pitcher role in the upcoming season. The decision comes as the Padres face a shortage in starting pitching after losing key starters Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish to free agency and injury, respectively.
Team Faces Pitching Shortages but Values Miller’s Role
The Padres’ rotation now consists mainly of Nick Pivetta, Michael King, and Joe Musgrove, although some face injury concerns. With this backdrop, speculation around moving Miller to the starting rotation emerged. However, the Padres coaching staff, led by pitching coach Ruben Niebla, emphasized Miller’s value as a closer and prioritized his current role.
“Having the take of the pitcher himself — what he wants to do, where he feels comfortable — if there was a strong desire for him to start, we probably would have shifted and allowed him to do that,”
said Ruben Niebla.
“But we also understand who we have in Mason Miller as possibly, arguably, the best closer in baseball.”
Miller’s Successful Performance Reinforces the Decision
During the last season, Miller posted an impressive 0.77 ERA over 22 relief appearances, accumulating two saves and 45 strikeouts. Acquired from the Athletics at the trade deadline, he quickly became a crucial part of the Padres’ bullpen. His dominant performance suggests he is well-suited to continue as the team’s closer in 2026.
Miller expressed confidence in his current role, saying,
“I think, just right now, it makes the most sense to stay with that success, stay where I know that I’m going to make an impact on this team.”
Open to Future Conversations but Focused on Current Success
While Miller did not rule out the possibility of eventually moving into the starting rotation, he remains focused on the immediate future and his current responsibilities. He also praised the strong communication within the team regarding decisions about his role.
“I’m focused on this year, of course,”
Miller said.
“We’ll always have conversations, and I love how good the communication is here. I don’t feel like decisions are being made without me being a part of them. … Hopefully, touch wood, we have a lot of time together here. And who knows where it goes?”
Implications for the Padres’ 2026 Season
The decision to keep Mason Miller as the primary closer solidifies the Padres’ bullpen strength as they prepare for next season, despite challenges in their starting rotation. Miller’s continued presence in relief pitching is expected to anchor their efforts to maintain competitiveness, while the team may still explore potential upgrades to shore up starting pitching depth ahead of 2026.
