Mason Miller as a starter: his manager isn’t ruling out the idea

Right now, Mason Miller is in a class of his own as a reliever in the MLB. The Padres closer, who was acquired at a high price by the club a few months ago, is absolutely phenomenal when he's on the mound.

Let's not forget that he'll also be defending the colors of the United States at the next World Baseball Classic… and it's safe to assume that he'll be the club's #1 reliever.

Despite all this, Miller's future as a reliever continues to be the subject of debate. We know that in the past, he's been a starting pitcher… and the idea of seeing him return to that role just won't die.

And Padres manager Craig Stammen was asked just that when he appeared on Foul Territory. And when you listen to Stammen, you understand that he's not ruling out the idea.

If Miller tells him he'd like to be a starter, Stammen has no intention of stopping him.

“I'm not going to put a limit on what he can and can't do.”

Padres manager Craig Stammen says he won't stand in the way if Mason Miller approaches him about starting. pic.twitter.com/lbv9wrxurR

– Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 13, 2026

Stammen explains that he has no intention of changing Miller's role, but will listen if his player comes to him. In his eyes, accommodating him would be an easy decision, given that if the idea comes from Miller, he'll give 110% to succeed.

It's an interesting approach… and one might think that Stammen's past as a player has something to do with it.

We know that for Miller, becoming a starter again would mean a lot more money when he becomes a free agent. Starting pitchers are paid a lot more than relievers, after all… but it's also questionable whether Miller's style would allow him to last a full season as a starter.

We know that during the first few years of his career, injuries really didn't spare him. Would a guy who pushes the ball at mind-boggling speeds be able to do it nearly a hundred times a game, and about thirty times a year?

It will be interesting to see if the Padres, who lost the services of Dylan Cease this winter (and won't have Yu Darvish next year), can count on Miller in the rotation one day. But in any case, it won't be in 2026, as the player opened the door for the future only and not for next season.

“I've had a lot of success in the bullpen, and to go away from that success right now doesn't make sense for me.”

Mason Miller isn't ruling out being a starter down the road, but he's all in on closing in 2026. pic.twitter.com/VdiyQyuROZ

– Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 15, 2026

This content was created with the help of AI.