A.J. Preller beats the buzzer as Padres land Tigers’ Casey Mize in MLB trade deadline stunner

A.J. Preller clearly saw the trade deadline clock winding down and decided he still had time for one more shot, and he got it off. The Padres are acquiring right-hander Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. It was a genuine buzzer-beater from a front-office executive who has never needed much encouragement to wheel and deal on deadline day. We’re still waiting to hear the return, but the deal is done. 

The Padres needed this. Their rotation had become less of a rotation recently. Michael King and Walker Buehler were San Diego’s only starters working on traditional schedules. Manager Craig Stammen was piecing together games with openers, bulk relievers and crossed fingers. That wasn’t going to be sustainable.

Preller responded by acquiring Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants earlier Monday. Then he added Mize before the horn. Now we’re looking at a trio of Michael King, Robbie Ray, and Casey Mize down the stretch with an impact bullpen behind them. 

Casey Mize gives the Padres exactly what their playoff push was missing

Mize was the first overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. That label still carries some shine, but his current numbers are the draw. Mize owns a 2.70 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP and 85 strikeouts through 86 2/3 innings this season. His 4-6 record can be tossed in the trash. Wins and losses tell us more about the support around a pitcher than they do about how well he has thrown. Mize has performed like a legitimate postseason starter. He is also coming off his first All-Star season, when he won 14 games and recorded a 3.87 ERA for Detroit.

There is some injury history here. Mize underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 and missed the entire 2023 season. He also spent time on the IL with adductor inflammation earlier this year. Regardless, the Friars acquired a talented, productive starter who is healthy now and pitching better than he ever has in his career.

The return going to Detroit will determine whether Preller paid a reasonable price or emptied another section of an already-thinning farm system. Mize is also headed for free agency after the season, and after what Preller has already given up, we’re not stamping this as a steal before seeing the complete invoice.

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