One of the first messages the Padres' newest reliever received following the blockbuster deadline trade: 'we don't like those guys a whole lot.'

A pivot to the rotation would pencil Miller in for a workload he may not be capable of, demanding San Diego build him up slowly to limit his injury risk. That means keeping his duties in check by way of hard innings limits, pitch counts, and phantom-like Injured List stints.

Mason Miller is right in the middle of the National League wild-card race as a member of the San Diego Padres, but he was reportedly almost part of the same race with a different team.