Padres Face Rotation Crisis with Potential Shift for Mason Miller
The San Diego Padres find themselves in a precarious situation as they navigate an offseason marked by a significant pitching shortage. Four of their starting pitchers from the previous season are now absent, leaving a glaring gap in the rotation that needs urgent attention.
Pitching Departures Hit Hard
The offseason has seen key figures such as Dylan Cease and Michael King enter free agency, while Nestor Cortes faces an even steeper challenge, being sidelined for the entire 2026 season due to injury. Adding to the urgency, Yu Darvish will also miss the upcoming season after undergoing UCL repair surgery in late November. The combination of these losses has left the Padres scrambling to reconfigure their pitching staff.
A Surprising Solution?
In the midst of this pitching crisis, the Padres are considering a bold move: transitioning relief pitcher Mason Miller back into a starting role. Miller, who originally began his career as a starter with the Athletics, could provide the team with the depth it desperately needs. Newly appointed manager Craig Stammen has not shied away from discussing this possibility, indicating that both Miller and All-Star Adrian Morejon are essential components of the team’s strategy moving forward.
Stammen’s Vision for the Team
“Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon will be a big part of our team this year,” Stammen stated. “I don’t know if they’re going to be starting, relieving, closing, but they’re going to be a big part of our success and they’re going to pitch as many innings as we can get them to pitch.” This approach suggests a flexible strategy aimed at maximizing the talents of both pitchers, regardless of where they end up in the lineup.
As the Padres look ahead, the reshaping of their pitching staff could be pivotal in determining their success in the upcoming season. With uncertainty looming over their rotation, the spotlight now shines on Mason Miller as the team seeks to navigate these tumultuous waters.
