For the San Diego Padres, beating the Dodgers is a bit personal. Every move they make is measured against the gold standard up north, and every acquisition is judged by how it might shift the balance in baseball’s most bitter modern rivalry. So when they made a deadline deal for a 26-year-old fireballer, it wasn’t just about bolstering their bullpen; it was about sending a message.

Enter Mason Miller, one of the most electrifying young arms in baseball. He brings more than just a 102-mph fastball to San Diego. He brings bite and edge. And most importantly? He’s already getting invested in the deep-seated rivalry with the Dodgers. The former A’s right-hander, known for his bulldog mentality and elite strikeout stuff, might’ve come from a quieter clubhouse, but he’s talking like a veteran Padre.

“They told me right away, we don’t like those guys a whole lot,” Miller admitted during his first Padres interview. “I haven’t really had a rivalry to that extent… Not like Padres-Dodgers. I’m excited to experience that.”

And that’s what makes this addition feel bigger than the stat sheet. Sure, Miller can throw gas, and his spin rate ranks among the league’s elite. But what elevates this deal is timing and tone. The Padres didn’t just add an arm; they added attitude. In a season where every game against LA feels like October, that matters.

San Diego’s front office has been quietly obsessed with Miller’s upside since early spring. Now, they’re betting that under the bright lights of Petco, and under the weight of real stakes, he’ll level up. And make no mistake, the Dodgers are watching. They know that the Padres just got a lot scarier with Miller on their team. He’s the kind of player who can completely flip a playoff series.

With the race getting tighter day by day, Miller is going to be right in the middle of all the drama. He’s not just going to bring the heat on the field but throw punches in the rivalry that defines the NL West. And the message has been sent by the Padres’ president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller.

A.J. Preller wants Miller to help the Padres win a championship

A.J. Preller isn’t dealing in half-measures. When the Padres landed Miller at the trade deadline, it wasn’t just about bolstering the bullpen; it was about planting a flag. In a year where the NL is wide open and the Dodgers are vulnerable, Preller made it crystal clear: San Diego is here to make a run, not just hang around the wild-card fringe.

“He’s a super talented pitcher,” Preller told The Athletic. “And I think… the focus now is, go do his job that he’s been so good at doing in the bullpen and help us win a championship.”

With Mason Miller in the fold, the Padres now boast a back-end bullpen pairing that no team wants to face in the final innings. Robert Suarez has been nothing short of dominant this season, with a 1.39 ERA and 20 saves in 45 games, and hitters batting just .176 against him. That’s the kind of stuff you need in tight playoff games. Now throw Mason Miller into the mix, with his triple-digit velocity, a 3.66 ERA, and 67 strikeouts in just 41.2 innings, and suddenly, the Padres don’t just have a closer, they have a closing nightmare for opposing teams.

Suarez brings precision and poise. Miller brings pure fire.

A.J. Preller knew exactly what he was building. These aren’t just bullpen pieces; they’re a message to the rest of the league. When you’ve got a bullpen duo this lethal, no lead feels too small, and no inning feels too late. If these two lock in, the Padres won’t just compete, they’ll make October difficult for anyone standing in their way.