Dodgers “Checking In” On Mason Miller After Edwin Díaz Injury

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers are doing what they always do: seeing a problem… and immediately attempting to solve it by acquiring the best possible player available.

According to Fax Sports insider Holly Baylor, the Dodgers have “checked in” with the San Diego Padres regarding closer Mason Miller following news that newly acquired All-Star closer Edwin Díaz is expected to miss up to three months after elbow surgery. Early discussions are rumored to center around young catcher Dalton Rushing as the headliner in a potential deal, as far as we know.

As if that wasn’t enough, multiple sources say Miller has been operating a secret burner phone used exclusively for fielding calls from the Dodgers — a development that league insiders are interpreting as “extremely subtle” interest in pitching in Los Angeles. The phone is reportedly labeled “Do Not Answer (Unless It’s LA),” which has only fueled speculation that Miller is already mentally preparing to wear Dodger blue.

The Dodgers losing Díaz for any amount of time would cripple most teams. For the Dodgers, it apparently just triggers a “go get Mason Miller” notification. Manager Dave Roberts didn’t exactly shut anything down when asked about the rumors. “If we want Mason Miller, we’ll get Mason Miller,” Roberts said. “That’s just how this works.”

Padres fans, meanwhile, are already bracing for emotional damage. One visibly shaken fan outside Petco Park summed it up: “It’s not fair. They always get what they want. We finally have a guy throwing 103 and now the Dodgers are just… calling about him like they’re ordering off a menu?” That sound you hear is San Diego collectively refreshing Twitter.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Dodgers fans have wasted no time getting ahead of the situation. Fans have reportedly begun pre-ordering Mason Miller Dodgers jerseys, with some insisting they “just want to beat the rush.” Even more concerning for the rest of the league, a small but committed group of fans has already started forming a line outside Dodger Stadium in anticipation of a future Mason Miller bobblehead giveaway, despite no trade — or bobblehead — actually existing yet. Team officials have declined to move them, citing “historical accuracy.”

Let’s break it down. Dodgers motivation: extremely high. Padres willingness: questionable, but chaos is always possible. Fax Sports chaos factor: off the charts. Estimated odds of a deal happening: 35% actual baseball logic, 65% “the Dodgers just did it anyway.”

If the Dodgers land Miller, the NL West could tilt immediately. A bullpen featuring Miller instantly becomes the most terrifying in baseball. The Padres would gain a premium young catcher in Rushing, signaling at least a partial retool. Every other team in the division would simply… exist.

Projected NL West standings if the deal happens, per Statfax: Dodgers (by a lot), Padres (confused but talented), Diamondbacks (trying to keep up), Giants (vibes), Rockies (still celebrating those two wins over the Dodgers).

The Dodgers don’t panic. They upgrade. And right now, the rest of the NL West is watching very closely… and very nervously.